Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee

Minutes

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Committee Room
Present:
  • Dorothy McFarlane, Chair
  • Anagha Sumant, Vice-Chair
  • Gino Vendetti
  • Amit Arora
  • Shanjay Kailayanathan
  • Lisa Knowlton
  • Julia McCrea
  • Councillor McConkey
Absent:
  • Adeel Haq
Also Present:
  • P. Aguilera, Council-Committee Coordinator
  • F. Bianchet, Council-Committee Coordinator
  • J. MacIsaac, Director, Diversity, Equity and Reconciliation

Public Meeting

 

Pamela Aguilera, Council-Committee Coordinator called the meeting to order and advised that all members were participating from the Committee Meeting Room except Gino Vendetti, Anagha Sumant, Julie McCrea, Shanjay Kailayanathan and Amit Arora who were participating electronically and Adeel Haq who was absent.

Land Acknowledgement

 

The City of Oshawa is situated on lands within the traditional and treaty territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Anishinaabeg and the signatories of the Williams Treaties, which include the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, Curve Lake, Hiawatha and Alderville First Nations, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island, Rama and Beausoleil First Nations.

We are grateful for the Anishinaabeg who have cared for the land and waters within this territory since time immemorial.

We recognize that Oshawa is steeped in rich Indigenous history and is now present day home to many First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. We express gratitude for this diverse group of Indigenous Peoples who continue to care for the land and shape and strengthen our community.

As a municipality, we are committed to understanding the truth of our shared history, acknowledging our role in addressing the negative impacts that colonization continues to have on Indigenous Peoples, developing reciprocal relationships, and taking meaningful action toward reconciliation.

We are all Treaty people.

Additional Agenda Items

 

None

Declarations of Pecuniary Interest

 

None

Presentations

 

Legislative Services - Advisory Committees of Council Policy and Procedure and Election of Chair and Vice Chair

 

Pamela Aguilera, Council-Committee Coordinator provided a presentation on the Advisory Committees of Council Policy and Procedure.

Pamela Aguilera, Council-Committee Coordinator conducted the Election of Chair and Vice Chair.

  • Election of the Chair of the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee

    Moved byLisa Knowlton

    That Dot McFarlane be nominated as Chair of the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee for a one-year term.

    Dot McFarlane accepted the nomination for Chair.


  • Moved byCouncillor McConkey

    That the nominations for the role of Chair of the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee be closed.

    Carried

  • The vote to adopt Dot McFarlane as Chair of the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee.

    Carried

  • Election of Vice Chair of the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee

    Pamela Aguilera, Council-Committee Coordinator opened the floor for nominations for the role of Vice Chair of the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee for a one-year term.

    Moved byJ. McCrea

    That Anagha Sumant be nominated as Vice Chair of the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee for a one-year term.

    Anagha Sumant accepted the nomination for Vice-Chair.


  • Moved byGino Vendetti

    That Gino Vendetti be nominated as Vice Chair of the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee for a term of one-year.

    Gino Vendetti accepted the nomination for Vice-Chair.


  • Moved byCouncillor McConkey

    That the nominations for the role of Vice Chair of the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee be closed.

  • The vote to appoint Anagha Sumant as Vice Chair of the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee

    Carried

    Dot McFarlane assumed the Chair.


Facilities Management Services - Update on Accessibility Funded Projects

 

Sophia Wouters, Manager, Capital and Technical Services provided the Committee with an update on accessibility projects.

The Committee questioned the Manager, Capital and Technical Services.

Facilities Management Services - Robert McLaughlin Library Main Entrance Upgrades

 

Sophia Wouters, Manager, Capital and Technical Services provided the Committee with entrance upgrades at the Robert McLaughlin Library. 

The Committee questioned the Manager, Capital and Technical Services.

Delegations

 

None

Referrals from Council and Committees

 

None

Correspondence

 

None

Reports

 

OAAC-25-01 - 2024 Year End Status Update of the 2023-2027 Oshawa Accessibility Plan

This item has attachments. 
1.OAAC_25-01.pdf
  • Moved byJ. McCrea

    That based on Report OAAC-25-01 being the 2024 Year End Status Update of the 2023-2027 Accessibility Plan:

    1. That the City of Oshawa's 2024 Year End Status Update - 2023-2027 Oshawa Accessibility Plan provided as Attachment No. 1 to Report OAAC-25-01 be received as information; and
    2. That a copy of this report be included in the Information Package to Council. 
    Carried

OAAC-25-02 - 2025 Accessibility Awards

This item has attachments. 
1.OAAC_25-02.pdf
  • Moved byLisa Knowlton

    That Report OAAC-25-02, being the 2025 Accessibility Awards Update dated January 14, 2025, be received for information.

    Carried

OAAC-25-03 - Accessible Capital Projects for 2025

This item has attachments. 
1.OAAC_25-03.pdf
  • Moved byJ. McCrea

    That based on Report OAAC-25-03 being the proposed 2025 Accessible Capital Project ($150,000), be allocated to the following:

    • Increased rest areas along trails and/or pathways ($100,000); and
    • Laval Community Center Washroom upgrades ($50,000)
    Carried

OAAC-25-04 - 2025 National AccessAbility Week

This item has attachments. 
1.REPORT_OAAC-25-04.pdf
  • Moved byJ. McCrea
    1. That the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee (O.A.A.C.) request that the City proclaim May 25 – May 31, 2025 as National AccessAbility Week to celebrate the City’s commitment to the development of an inclusive community; and,
    2. That the O.A.A.C. flag be raised at City Hall from May 25 to May 31, 2025.
    Carried

Items Introduced by Members

 

OAAC- 25-05 - Creation of BUILT Subcommittee

 

  • The Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee discussed resuming the BUILT Environment Subcommittee for 2025.

    Moved byCouncillor McConkey
    1. That the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee (O.A.A.C.) form a BUILT Environment Subcommittee for 2025 to review site plan applications and to undertake audits of existing buildings, parks and trails; and,
    2. That Lisa Knowlton, Dot McFarlane and Councillor McConkey be appointed to the BUILT Environment Subcommittee; and,
    3. That Dot McFarlane be appointed as the Chair of the BUILT Environment Subcommittee for 2025.
    Carried

OAAC-25-06 - Request for Report on Accessibility of Rest Areas with Accessible Benches in Outdoor Parks and Trails

 
  • Moved byJ. McCrea

    That the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee recommend to the Safety and Facilities Services Committee:

    That the Facilities Management Services department prepare a report for the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee on the accessibility of rest areas with accessible benches in the outdoor parks and trails of Oshawa, on the grounds of city facilities and inside city facilities, with an assessment of the following:

    1. Number present; and
    2. Number required; and
    3. Frequency along paths, trails or walkways; and
    4. Projected costs to meet needs.
    Carried

OAAC-25-07 - Request for Update on VOLT Hockey Pilot and Stop Gap Pilot Project for 2025

 
  • Moved byCouncillor McConkey

    That the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee receive a presentation concerning the VOLT Hockey Pilot Program and the Stop Gap Pilot project for in the first quarter of 2025.

    Carried

OAAC-25-08 - Potential Enhancements to Sidewalk Snow Clearing

 
  • Moved byCouncillor McConkey

    That the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee receive a presentation on potential enhancements on sidewalk snow clearing to improve accessibility in Oshawa during the winter months.

    Carried

OAAC-25-09 - Report of Accessibility Upgrades Required at Community Centres

 
  • Moved byCouncillor McConkey

    That Staff provide a list of community centres and those with priority needs for accessibility upgrades in order for the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee to arrange visual audits in 2025.

    Carried

Adjournment

 
  • Moved byLisa Knowlton

    That the meeting adjourn at 8:31 p.m. 

    Carried
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