Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 7 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
DI19.1received
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, Chair, Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee will give a presentation to the Committee on recent initiatives and updates.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee received the item for information.
DI19.2received
Dwayne Geddes, Department Head, Wheel-Trans, Toronto Transit Commission will give a presentation on TTC's Wheel-Trans appeal process update, COVID 19 measures and procurement of larger vehicles.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee received the item for information.
DI19.3amended
January 2022 Major Snow Event Post-Operational Consultation for Accessibility Feedback
Vincent Sferrazza, Director of Operations and Maintenance; and Jaime Thomas, Senior Manager, Winter Operations and Emergency Services will give an overview on January's major snowfall and winter maintenance operational response. Transportation Services staff are seeking input from the Committee prior to finalizing a report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee recommends that: 1. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to: a. recognize and quickly respond to Urgent Service Requests made by people living with disabilities or seniors, even during "black-out" periods; b. create a proactive accessibility service standard by incorporating an intersectional gender equity lens similar to Sweden's "Gender Equal Plowing Strategy"; c. prohibit City snowplows from storing snow and ice on sidewalks and bike lanes that create additional accessibility barriers; d. develop a public education campaign to inform property owners, business operators, residents, landlords and tenants about the City's winter maintenance strategy and to clarify the division of responsibility for snow and ice clearing and removal; and e. report through the 2023 Budget process on the funding required to ensure that the City can meet its revised levels of service including for winter storms with over 35 cm and over 50 cm of snow. 2. City Council forward Council's decision on the report from Transportation Services on January 2022's major snowfall and winter maintenance operational response to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee for information.
DI19.4received
Accessible Trick-or-Treating - Treat Accessibly Initiative
At its meeting on November 9, 10 and 12, 2021, City Council considered Item MM37.20 and directed that a copy be shared with the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee. City Council Decision City Council on November 9, 10 and 12, 2021, adopted the following: 1. City Council direct Strategic Communications, on an annual basis, to promote awareness of the Treat Accessibly initiative, through the appropriate corporate communication outlets. 2. City Council direct that Motion MM37.20 be shared with Toronto's Accessibility Advisory Committee, Ontario's Minister for Seniors and Accessibility, and Members of Provincial Parliament and Members of Parliament whose ridings are located in the City of Toronto. Summary from Member Motion by Councillor Frances Nunziata, seconded by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam: Approximately 400,000 children and youth in Canada live with having accessibility needs, and over 6.2 Canadians identify with having a mobility, sensory, or intellectual disability. Treat Accessibly began in 2017 with the Padulo family placing a sign on their front lawn to promote awareness of the accessibility challenges faced by some children in their neighbourhood. Since 2017, Treat Accessibly has grown to include more than 40,000 homes across Canada that have committed to providing an accessible trick-or-treat experience. Treat Accessibly is a grassroots movement working to encourage residents, and their communities, to take steps to make their Halloween celebrations more inclusive. Treat Accessibly provides tips and recommendations that households can follow to ensure the public can visit and trick-or-treat in a safe and accessible manner. On the recommendation of Siena Padulo, the founder's daughter, Treat Accessibly has also launched a pilot program being delivered in 124 schools. Treat Accessibly's goal is to have 400,000 households participating - one household for every Canadian child with accessibility needs. Households wishing to participate can apply to receive a free, recyclable "Accessible Trick-or-Treating" sign to promote awareness of accessible trick-or-treating.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee received the item for information.
DI19.5received
Single-Use and Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy - Accessibility Feedback
Annette Synowiec, Director, Policy, Planning and Outreach, and Michael Skaljin, Manager, Solid Waste Policy and Planning; Solid Waste Management Services will give a presentation on the City's proposed Single-Use and Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy. The presentation will cover the specific considerations of the needs of people with disabilities that have been taken into account, as well as information about the public online survey that has been launched to collect feedback from the public.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee received the item for information.
DI19.6adopted
Preserving Accessibility Across Construction Sites
As one of the largest cities in North America, the City of Toronto is consistently under construction through state of good repair infrastructure work or private development with over 124 cranes in the sky at any moment. Each construction site is unique whether it is cramped conditions through the downtown or more spacious construction in other parts of the city. In all cases, the City of Toronto needs to ensure that the public realm remains accessible, or that adequate accommodation is maintained. There are many instances reported of failure to maintain an accessible pathway or adequate accommodation on a variety of sites across the City. While each site brings unique challenges, we need to ensure that Toronto remains accessible for all who navigate the city. It is important to have consistent standards and enforcement to protect vulnerable road users across the city.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee recommends that: 1. The City Manager, in consultation with relevant City divisions, report to the May 5, 2022 meeting of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee on the tools and strategies the City currently uses to ensure accessibility in the public realm surrounding private development as well as capital City projects including: a. access to sidewalks, or where not possible, adequate pathways; b. existing guidelines for access/egress standards; c. ramps, signage, and wayfinding for pedestrians; and d. enforcement protocol and associated fines, if any, for non-compliance.
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam recommends that the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee recommend that: 1. The City Manager, in consultation with relevant City divisions, report to May 5, 2022 meeting of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee on the tools and strategies the City currently uses to ensure accessibility in the public realm surrounding private development as well as Capital city projects including: a. Access to sidewalks, or where not possible, adequate pathways; b. Existing guidelines for access/egress standards; c. Ramps, signage, and wayfinding for pedestrians, and d. Enforcement protocol and associated fines, if any, for non-compliance.
DI19.7adopted
Enforcing the Prohibition of E-Scooters in the Public Realm
At the May 5, 2021 meeting of City Council, a recommendation to decline the option to participate in O.Reg 389/19 - Pilot Project - Electric Kick-Scooters was adopted Agenda Item History - 2021.IE21.7 At that time, City Council requested that City staff work with the Toronto Police Service Board to develop a public education campaign to convey the existing by-laws as well as actively scale up city-wide enforcement on the prohibition of e-scooters. Since that time, there have been reports about the continued and expanding use of e-scooters through the city, using the prohibited public sidewalk, park pathways, and other pedestrian-oriented space. E-scooters are virtually silent and pose a threat to anyone who is blind or has mobility limitations navigating the sidewalks. Additionally, any e-scooters randomly abandoned in the public right-of-way as witnessed in other cities create barriers for persons with disabilities, seniors, or anyone with mobility issues. This continues to be a considerable challenge for the community despite the prohibition on electric kick-scooters. It is important that the City of Toronto address the ongoing gap in public education and enforcement in order to keep the public realm safe and accessible for all.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee recommends that: 1. The City Manager, in consultation with relevant City divisions, provide an update to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee at its May 5, 2022 meeting, on the progress of the public education campaign for the prohibition of e-scooters in the public realm, the plan on city-wide enforcement and confirmation of the necessary funding for 2022 and future budget processes.
Staff recommendation as filed
Wendy Porch recommends that the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee recommend that: 1. The City Manager, in consultation with relevant City divisions, provide an update to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee at its May 5, 2022 meeting, on the progress of the public education campaign for the prohibition of e-scooters in the public realm, the plan on city-wide enforcement and confirmation of the necessary funding for 2022 and future budget processes.