City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................ 3
THE BIG PICTURE
Legislative Obligations .................................................................... 6
Emerging Issues ................................................................................ 7
The Business of Municipal Accessibility .................................... 8
Site Plan Review .............................................................................. 10
STAFF REPORTS
Asset Management ......................................................................... 12
Building and Licensing ................................................................... 12
Clerk’s Department ......................................................................... 13
Client Services .................................................................................. 13
Community and Family Services ............................................... 13
Culture and Recreation ................................................................. 15
Engineering ........................................................................................ 15
Growth & Initiatives ....................................................................... 16
Housing................................................................................................ 16
Human Resources ........................................................................... 16
Legal Services ................................................................................... 17
Parking ................................................................................................. 17
Planning............................................................................................... 18
Rideaucrest Long Term Care Facility ....................................... 18
Solid Waste ........................................................................................ 19
Strategy, Environment, and Communications..................... 19
Transportation, Traffic ................................................................... 20
Transportation, Transit ................................................................. 20
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
MUNICIPAL ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ACTIVITY.................................................................. 22
ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
REPORTS
Second Quarter of 2006 ............................................................... 26
First Quarter of 2006 ..................................................................... 28
Fourth Quarter of 2005 ................................................................. 31
BUDGETING FOR MUNICIPAL ACCESSIBILITY
Province of Ontario Perspective................................................. 36
Municipality Perspective ............................................................... 37
MUNICIPAL ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2007
Goal 1: Allocate more resources for municipal
accessibility ........................................................................................ 40
Budget Recommendations for the City of Kingston .......... 41
Goal 2: Continue to organize public education events
about accessibility ........................................................................... 41
Public Education Recommendations for the City of
Kingston .............................................................................................. 42
APPENDIX 1: COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON THE
2007 (YEAR 4) PLAN ................................................ 44
APPENDIX 2: ACCESSIBILITY BARRIER REPORT ...... 49
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Executive Summary
Overview: The Municipal Accessibility Advisory
Committee (MAAC) is encouraged by the progress made
by the City of Kingston in the second quarter of 2006, in
the implementation of MAAC recommendations,
particularly regarding Kingston Transit. The MAAC still has
concerns about the existing barriers that have been
identified in some of the City‟s buildings.
Emerging Issues: It is expected that the “standards”
from the first two of the Province‟s five Standards
Development Committees will be announced shortly.
Additionally, three new provincial accessibility standards
will be developed in the near future. This is in keeping
with the province-wide goal of developing, implementing,
and enforcing accessibility standards in stages of five
years, leading to an accessible Ontario by 2025. There
has been no communication from the Ministry responsible
for accessibility – The Ontario Ministry of Community and
Social Services, about who will enforce the standards, or
how they will be enforced. The revised Ontario Building
Code will be activated January 1, 2007. Though the
details have not yet been announced, there will be several
additions and revisions related to accessibility.
Goal 1 for 2007: Encourage the City to allocate more
resources for municipal accessibility. Based on
consultation with the City‟s Finance Department, and
building on the direction contained in the Council
resolution of May 16-06, the MAAC recommends:
1. That each department within the City of Kingston adds
a distinct line to its operating budget template,
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
identifying anticipated accessibility expenditures by
department.1
2. That the City demonstrate its commitment to municipal
accessibility by assigning at least one full time,
permanent employee (FTE) to support the MAAC and
municipal accessibility activities.
Goal 2 for 2007: Organize, directly and in
partnership with other organizations, public
education events about accessibility. The following
are the MAAC‟s recommendations associated with public
education associated with municipal accessibility activity:
That City Council endorse the development, under the
guidance of the MAAC, of the following projects:
1. Mapping of accessible features in the City of Kingston
downtown core.
With the support of the City‟s Information Systems
Division, and the marketing ability of the Kingston
Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO), this
project will graphically and textually identify and
describe the location of physical accessibility features
like curb cuts, automatic doors, and accessible
washrooms. This information would be useful to
residents and tourists planning to visit a City-owned
facility, attend a City meeting, or pay a City-related
bill.
2. Awards program celebrating progressive local
accessibility practices.
The MAAC hopes to organize an annual event with
the support of the Downtown Business Improvement
Association, KEDCO, and the Chamber of Commerce.
The awards would acknowledge and profile “best
case” accessibility practices in our City.
3. “Accessibility Is More Than A Ramp – II”
1
With respect to large capital expenditures, the May 16-06 resolution passed by City
Council already requires staff to “prepare budget items within departmental
jurisdictions as part of the City‟s ten year capital projections”.
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
The City‟s first cross-disability public education event,
organized by the MAAC at Rideaucrest Long-Term Care
Facility on November 8-05, drew over 90 people.
Components of the event included an information fair with
over 20 local service providers, presentations by three guest
speakers, and four panel discussions on municipal
accessibility issues.2 The MAAC deemed the AIMTAR event
successful, and intends to continue staging this conference
every second year. This year‟s conference will likely be held
again at Rideaucrest, in November.
2
An outline and review of the November 2005 day-long conference at Rideaucrest
Long-Term care facility can be found on the City website at:
http://www.cityofkingston.ca/pdf/cityhall/committees/accessibility/AIMTAR_evaluatio
n.doc
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
The Big Picture
Legislative Obligations
Even though new legislation in the form of the Accessibility
for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) received
Royal Assent on June 13, 2005 and is now the law, the
planning requirements of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act,
2001 (ODA) remain in force until the act is repealed.
Under the ODA, all municipalities have a legal obligation to
prepare annual accessibility plans.
The ODA specifies that municipalities must consult with
people with disabilities in preparing their accessibility plans.
Municipalities of 10,000 or more residents are required to
establish local municipal accessibility advisory committees
(MAAC), and a majority of their members must be people
with disabilities. These municipalities must consult with the
committees as they prepare their plans. Municipalities with
fewer than 10,000 residents are not obliged to form an
accessibility advisory committee, but they are required to
consult with people with disabilities in the preparation of
their plans.
The purpose of the new Act is to benefit all Ontarians by
achieving accessibility for people with disabilities. This will
be done by developing, implementing and enforcing
accessibility standards concerning goods, services,
accommodation, facilities, buildings and employment.
Improvements will be phased in, in stages of 5 years or less,
moving towards an accessible Ontario in 20 years. These
standards will be developed by Standards Development
Committees (SDCs) composed of members of the disability
community, business and sector representatives, and
government. Standards will be mandatory for public and
private sectors to address the full range of disabilities,
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
including physical, sensory, mental health, developmental
and learning. Some of the standards may be common to all
industries and businesses; others may be specific to a
certain sector. Common standards will be developed in
customer service, transportation, built environment,
employment, and information/communications.
Transportation is an example of a sector-specific standard
that will be developed. Additional sector-specific standards
may also be developed.
It is expected that the “standards” from the first two of the
Province‟s five SDCs will be announced shortly. Additionally,
three new provincial accessibility standards will be
developed in the near future. The AODA has enforcement
provisions that give the Province the power to impose fines
of up to $100,000 on private and public-sector organizations
that fail to demonstrate compliance with the legislation.
Emerging Issues
It is expected that the “standards” from the first two of the
Province‟s five Standards Development Committees will be
announced shortly. The implementation of the
“Transportation Standards” in the City of Kingston will, at
the very least, likely impact Kingston Transit, Kingston
Access Services, and privately-operated taxis in the City.
“Client Services Standards” will impact, at the very least, the
City of Kingston‟s Human Resources, Client Services, and
perhaps, Asset Management, Departments.
On June 13, the McGuinty government announced that it will
be establishing three new accessibility standards to target
barriers in “Information and Communications”, “The Built
Environment”, and “Employment for People with
Disabilities”. This is in keeping with the province-wide goal
of developing, implementing, and enforcing accessibility
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
standards in stages of five years, leading to an accessible
Ontario by 2025.
The revised Ontario Building Code will be activated January
1, 2007. Details will become available in the fall of 2006,
though at this point the following is known:
public corridors will be built to accommodate modern
wheelchairs;
new tactile signs will make it easier for the visually
impaired to navigate through buildings; and
10 per cent of the units in a new apartment building or
hotel will have to include accessible features.
There has been no communication from the Ministry
responsible for accessibility – The Ontario Ministry of
Community and Social Services, about who will enforce the
standards, or how they will be enforced. The expectation
among many municipalities is that there will be increased
work for MAACs, Municipal Accessibility Coordinators, and
possibly for Building and Licensing departments. Further
increasing the urgency of barrier identification and removal
is the provision in the AODA for penalties of up to $100,000
for non-compliance to the standards.
The Business of Municipal Accessibility
Since the City‟s MAAC was established in 2003, the amount
of barrier identification and removal activity in the City of
Kingston has significantly increased. In 2003 the MAAC was
a six-person committee that met approximately four times
per year. Today, the MAAC is a fourteen person committee,
including one City Councillor. The full plenary meets
approximately six times per year to assess and refine
municipal accessibility activity. The MAAC‟s three standing
Work Groups – “Public Transportation and Pedestrian
Issues”, “Corporate Communications”, and “Physical
Accessibility and Site Plan Review”, meet approximately
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
monthly to research issues and make recommendations to
the MAAC plenary.3 It also occasionally constitutes ad hoc
Work Groups to investigate certain issues, such as “Unpaid
Work and Volunteer Placements in the City of Kingston by
People with Disabilities” or the development of public
education events, such as “Accessibility Is More Than A
Ramp” (held November 8, 2005).
The responsibility for supporting MAAC activities has been
assigned to a single fulltime staff-person since 2003 - the
Accessibility Co-ordinator. The Accessibility Co-ordinator is
also responsible for “Site Plan Review” (which is a distinct
requirement of the ODA for municipalities), and a broad
range of educational and administrative activities that might
be best described as “community development” and
“internal communications”. The Accessibility Co-ordinator
position has been an annual contract since the position was
first created in July 2003.
Municipal accessibility activity touches many aspects of City
business. With respect to the City of Kingston‟s 1998
“FOCUS Community Strategic Plan”4, accessibility is linked to
the following high priority themes:
Access (regarding provision of information in alternate
format; website accessibility, “TTY phones”, “Assistive
Listening Systems”, “Real Time Captioning”, and “Sign
Language Interpreters”);
Culture (regarding barrier-free City-owned playgrounds,
parks, marinas, and museums);
Infrastructure (regarding new sidewalks and repair of
existing sidewalks, snow removal, audible traffic signals,
wheelchair ramps, accessible parking, and signage); and
3
Those recommendations ratified by the MAAC at its plenary meetings are passed
directly to City Council for Council‟s voting and ratification. After Council‟s
ratification, the MAAC recommendation becomes City of Kingston policy.
4
Shortly after the 1998 amalgamation, the first Council of the “New City of Kingston”
initiated a strategic planning process in full consultation with the community, in order
to construct a 10-year road map charting the City‟s future.
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Planning (regarding the Transportation Master Plan and
issues such as wheelchair access on buses, accessible bus
shelters, accessible taxi cabs, and accessible walking-
hiking pathways).
Municipal accessibility is also connected to several of the
medium priority themes identified in the FOCUS Community
Strategic Plan, including “Our Young People”, and “Our
Elders”.
All municipalities are accountable to their communities and,
as such, must make their accessibility plans available to the
public. The public consultation for the City of Kingston 2007
Accessibility Plan occurred on August 16-06 at Rideaucrest
Long-Term Care Facility. Comments from citizens are
contained in Appendix 1. A public consultation on a variety
of public transportation issues, including, “wheelchairs on
Kingston Transit buses”, was held on June 26-06 at
Rideaucrest Long-Term Care Facility. From the input
received at this public consultation, Kingston Transit has
decided to offer one forward-facing, and one rearward-facing
position, on all its Route I buses, by the end of 2006.
Training of bus drivers, and communications to riders,
associated with wheelchairs on Route 1 buses, will begin in
October.
The report from this public consultation can be found on the
City‟s website at:
http://www.cityofkingston.ca/pdf/cityhall/committees/access
ibility/EasierAccessFocusGroup_Notes.doc
Site Plan Review
Section 12(6) of the ODA requires municipalities to provide
site plans and related drawings to MAACs when requested.
In the City of Kingston prior to 2005, only 3 site plans were
reviewed for accessibility by the MAAC and the City‟s
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Accessibility Coordinator. Since May 2005, the MAAC has
been requesting all site plans. To date, 89 applications have
been reviewed for accessibility. The review consists of
interpreting “Section 3.8: Barrier-Free Design” of the
Ontario Building Code. Aspects of the review include
consideration of:
Safe and easy access for pedestrians and vehicles;
Suitable landscaping and parking;
Adequate lighting conditions; and
Inclusion of wheelchair ramps and curb-cuts.
The trend in the median number of site plans reviewed for
accessibility, per month, by the MAAC, is shown below. A
typical site plan review for accessibility, plus administration,
is 0.5 hours.
8
7
6
5
4 Median/Month
3
2
1
0
2003 2004 2005 2006
Additionally, the number of applications requiring
considerable amounts of time for review (such as the new
Police Headquarters, the Multiplex Sports Complex, and The
Kingston Regional Sports and Entertainment Centre), have
increased.
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Staff Reports
In preparing annual accessibility plans, municipalities must
consider the following:
The plans must address a broad range of disability issues,
taking into account the full definition of disability under
the ODA and the Ontario Human Rights Code;
The plans must examine all aspects of the municipality‟s
operations, including its By-Laws, practices, facilities,
programs and services;
Municipalities must take into consideration their roles as
service providers and employers;
The plans must identify steps to be taken over time to
remove identified barriers and prevent any new ones; and
It is important that municipalities consider integrating
accessibility planning into their business planning cycles
to ensure a thoughtful, effective and efficient process and
meaningful outcomes.
The information contained in this, and the next two chapters
(“Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee Activity” and
“Accessibility Project Implementation Status Reports”)
address the City‟s obligation under the ODA, to assess its
internal performance related to barrier identification and
removal.
Asset Management
Budget discussions are just starting, and an undetermined
amount may be secured.
Building and Licensing
Nothing new to report.
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Clerk’s Department
Electronic touch screens will be used on advance voting
days in the 2006 municipal election to allow visually
impaired electors to vote independently.
Sensitivity training will be provided to poll workers prior
to municipal elections; accessibility is one of the criteria
used in selecting polling locations.
All City Council report templates have been changed to
include a line item titled “Accessibility Considerations” to
ensure that consideration is being given to accessibility
when the report is being written.
Attempts are made to ensure that all documents include a
notation that the document is available in an alternate
format if requested.
A one-line notice is added to the Notice of Appeal for the
Appeals Committee that an assistive listening device is
available on notice.
Client Services
Client Service Representatives continue to flag citizen
inquiries and complaints that have an accessibility
component.
Client Services staff were involved in the development of
a “falls prevention” awareness campaign as part of the
Stay on Your Feet Falls Prevention Project.
Proposed budget for 2007: Waiting for the Province‟s
Customer Service Standards expected this fall.
Community and Family Services
The Ontario Works program closed the Ontario Works
office at 84 Stephen Street, Kingston in January, 2006.
Staff has relocated to the main office at 362 Montreal
Street, which is a fully accessible building.
Referral protocols have been streamlined to ensure
interpretive services to meet customer service needs and
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
program delivery requirements. Although this information
was provided in previous years, improvements have
continued.
In June 2005, the Ontario Ministry of Community and
Social Services closed seven provincial Ontario Works
Intake Screening call centres. The application for social
assistance is now a single-step process completed at the
local Ontario Works office. Applicants residing in the City
of Kingston and Frontenac County apply for social
assistance by contacting the City‟s Ontario Works office
directly to commence the application process. This step
improved local access for residents in their respective
municipalities.
An Enhanced Support Worker from Community Living
Kingston is on-site for eight weeks in the summer, 2006
to provide special supports to children in care at Oakwood
Pre-School Centre.
Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program
staff have collaborated this year, 2006, to achieve the
joint referral service protocol to streamline access to
Ontario Works employment services for non-disabled
spouses and dependent adults. Details of the protocol
were developed and finalized through a joint
implementation planning process initiated in January,
2006.
Ontario Works staff participated in the consultation,
facilitated by MAAC Vice-Chair, Mary Margaret Dauphinee,
for The “Hand-Up, Not a Hand Out” pilot project in
support of unpaid work placements for people with
disabilities in the City of Kingston workplace(s).
Department management staff has received an
information package entitled “Holding an Accessible
Meeting”.
Proposed budget for 2007: $1,500.00 will be allocated in
the municipal 2007 budget to purchase a pocket talker
and also to prepare a generic business card, in Braille, for
office staff.
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Culture and Recreation
Culture and Recreation Staff are participating in
Accessibility Awareness Training in fall of 2006.
Culture and Recreation staff will be undertaking
accessibility audits of the two municipal museums – the
MacLachlan Woodworking Museum and the Pump House
Steam Museum in summer/fall 2006.
Culture and Recreation Staff will request the appropriate
funds to implement phase one accessibility requirements
for the two municipal museums.
Culture and Recreation Staff, with the assistance of the
City‟s Accessibility Co-ordinator and the MAAC, will
undertake an accessibility audit of the Artillery Park
Aquatic Centre in late 2006 or early 2007.
Culture and Recreation staff has received information
provided by the City‟s Accessibility Co-ordinator on how to
organize and hold „accessible meetings‟.
As a result of becoming more aware of and the provision
of „accessible meetings‟, Culture and Recreation Staff
ensure that all public meetings for committees and
subcommittees of Council that they book are held in
facilities that are accessible.
Engineering
Engineering staff continue to tender sidewalk contacts
every year.
In 2006, 22 para-ramps were installed at a cost of
approximately $35,000.
Para-ramps have been incorporated at each corner of any
re-construction or new construction projects.
We are moving towards the fully depressed walks at
driveways to improve accessibility. These fully depressed
walks will be installed where possible and we will monitor
the advantages and disadvantages.
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Growth & Initiatives
The Growth and Initiatives Department is always aware of
accessibility issues that might be associated with new or
ongoing projects that fall within its jurisdiction.
Housing
Housing‟s report on accessibility in the Year 3 Accessibility
Plan is still relevant.
In addition to those activities, through funding from the
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and
with support dollars through the Ontario Ministry of
Community and Social Services, the City will facilitate a
Request For Proposal process in 2007. The funding will be
used to create 10 housing units for persons with dual
diagnosis (developmental disability with a psychiatric or
behavioral disorder).
In 2006, Housing developed a Homelessness Plan for the
City of Kingston which will include strategies to deal with
the homeless population who suffer from psychiatric or
behavioral disorders.
Human Resources
Human Resources staff completed a „Placement and
Volunteer‟ policy which will be able to assist
participants/members of community agencies serving
those with special needs.
Multicultural sensitivity training is being developed. This
will focus on becoming aware of cultural differences
between staff and customers while respecting differences.
Human Resources has developed a new workshop with
Barry Kaplan, Accessibility Co-ordinator, as facilitator -
„hosting meetings with participants with accessibility
needs‟. The session reviews assistive devices and tools
that help.
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Projected budget for 2007: Training costs will be included
in our Corporate Training Budget.
Legal Services
Legal Services and the Provincial Offences Offices are
physically accessible, including washroom facilities.
Both offices are accessible by phone, fax and by email
through the internet, as well as the City's teletypewriter
(TTY) phone services.
Provincial offences fines may be paid in person, over the
phone or electronically through the City's internet site. If
individuals are required to attend court need the services
of a translator or sign interpreter, advance arrangements
can be made through the POA Office for those to be
provided.
Legal Services staff continue to provide advice and
support to various City initiatives related to barrier
identification and removal. Examples include the City's
purchasing policy, prosecuting contraventions of municipal
by-laws related to accessibility (sandwich boards) and
advice regarding the application of the Human Rights
Code to how the municipality provides various services.
Parking
In October, 2005, the Parking Services Division
implemented a fine increase to $300 for any motorist who
parks in a designated disabled parking space without a
valid Disabled Person Parking permit. The fine was
previously $100. The fine increase was mandated by both
the Highway Traffic Act and Ontario Municipal Act, but is
up to local municipalities to change appropriate by-laws.
City Council approved the by-law change and signs were
installed to increase awareness of the violation.
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
The incremental amount of $200 will be set aside in a
dedicated accessibility fund, which is expected to amount
to approximately $20,000 per year.
Planning
Planning will include a section in the City‟s Site Plan
Control Guidelines (a set of recommendations and
requirements provided to applicants seeking building
permits) prepared by the Municipal Accessibility Advisory
Committee, on “criteria and guidelines for accessibility”.
As part of the new Official Plan, Planning will develop
accessibility policy considerations.
In that the Accessibility Coordinator operates within the
Planning and Development Department, Planning and
Development has provided staff support to assist with the
implementation and administration of various municipal
accessibility projects.
Rideaucrest Long Term Care Facility
A single public washroom on the Lower Level has been
rearranged based on feedback from the MAAC.
One washroom on Crestview Terrace has also been
altered with the installation of an auto door.
Rideaucrest hosted a provincial-level accessibility
conference.
Emergency and wayfinding signage (tactile and
luminescent) has been installed in stairwells and zones.
As the names of wings are changed, the signage will also
change.
“Holdbacks” for doors have been installed to improve
Resident access to Country Kitchens.
New sofas have been purchased for Crestview Terrace
that are higher and easier for Residents to get up from.
As part of a process to test the efficacy of various
alternate communication modalities at the Reception
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Counter (assistive listening devices, white boards with
large print, etc.), a whiteboard with handwritten
information about activities at Rideaucrest (changed daily
by staff) was successfully trialed. This initiative will be
made permanent and supported with signage noting the
service.
With input from the City‟s Accessibility Coordinator,
Rideaucrest has redesigned its entrance sidewalk, making
it wider, and reducing its slope so that it doesn‟t propel
wheelchairs into the driveway.
Solid Waste
The Solid Waste Division incorporated “accessibility”
criteria into seven Requests For Proposals (RFPs) between
July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006.
The evaluation of the accessibility provisions in the
supplier proposals submitted to Solid Waste, ranged from
three to five percent, as prescribed in the City of Kingston
guidelines for RFPs.
The following are Operations-Solid Waste (OS-SW) and
Public Works and Emergency Services (PWES) RFPs,
showing the scoring percentage for accessibility:
- OS-SW-01-2005 (5%)
- OS-SW-02-2005 (3%)
- OS-SW-03-2005 (3%)
- PWES-SW-01-2006 (3%)
- PWES-SW-02-2006 (3%)
- PWES-SW-03-2006 (3%)
- PWES-SW-04-2006 (3%)
Strategy, Environment, and Communications
Based on consultation with the MAAC,
Strategy, Environment & Communications will address the
following municipal accessibility objectives:
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
- To assign a communications officer to assist the MAAC
in developing a communications strategy for the
“accessibility barrier” report.
- To reinforce the requirement for the footer so that all
print advertisements provide the required information
about availability of information in alternate format.
- To provide a communications officer to assist the MAAC
if the time commitment is not too great and it does not
conflict with other time-sensitive issues that tend to
come up.
- To investigate the possibility of producing an RFP for
closed captioning of City Council meetings.
The Communications Division is in the process of
procuring a firm to undertake a “best practices” review of
the City‟s external web site. The review, expected to
begin in the fourth quarter of 2006, will include
accessibility as a review component.
Transportation, Traffic
A new Audible Pedestrian Signal (APS) is being installed
this summer at the intersection of Bath Road & Centennial
Drive.
There are also plans to install APS at University Ave &
Union Street as part of the University Avenue
Revitalization Project. As Queen‟s is to be responsible for
this intersection it is difficult to provide a completion date
other than to state that it most likely will be installed this
year or next year at the latest.
Transportation, Transit
As a first step in increasing accessibility, Kingston Transit
launched an "Easier Access" Route 1 service. All buses on
Route 1 are low floor and be able to deploy the "kneeling"
feature. Buses can be lowered further to allow a
passenger with a walker or cane to board without the
20
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
difficulty of coping with steps. Also, a seat near the front
can be lifted for easy storage of a walker.
Kingston Transit has provided "Hailing Kits" to people with
visual impairments. The kits, distributed through the
CNIB, identify with plastic cards, which route the
passenger wishes to take. Also, a reminder card can be
provided to the driver who will notify the passenger when
their stop is approaching. The CNIB hosted sessions to
teach users how the kits are used, and approximately 40
people attended.
On June 26, 2006, approximately 20 people attended a
forum at Rideaucrest to discuss transit accessibility.
Accommodating wheelchairs on buses was the focus, and
the Transit Manager presented issues, considerations and
plans. Facilitated by Jeanette Parsons of Queen‟s
University, feedback from users was obtained.
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Municipal Accessibility Advisory
Committee Activity
The Chairs of the three MAAC Work Groups – “Corporate
Communications” (Chair, Kym Clark),”Physical Accessibility
and Site Plan Review” (Chair, Hal Cain), and “Public
Transportation and Pedestrian Issues” (Chair, Terri Hibbs)
file reports at every MAAC plenary meeting. These reports,
and the plenary meeting notes, can be found on the City‟s
website at:
http://www.cityofkingston.ca/cityhall/committees/accessibili
ty/minutes.asp
The City of Kingston‟s Accessibility Coordinator responds to
approximately 40 requests for information about municipal
accessibility per year. This has remained fairly constant over
the last three years. The last six months has seen more
requests for information about accessibility at the Kingston
Regional Sports and Entertainment Centre (formerly known
as “LVEC”), and the Multiplex Sports Complex. Requests for
information frequently are made regarding the City‟s
accessibility program, the AODA legislation, availability of
governmental funding for ramps, and location and features
of City of Kingston accessible playgrounds.
The City of Kingston‟s Accessibility Coordinator responds to
approximately 25 complaints about municipal accessibility
per year. The two most frequently cited complaints in the
last twelve months have been about lack of accommodation
of wheelchairs on Kingston Transit buses, and lack of
accessibility at the Keg Restaurant at 300 King Street. In
2006, a Human Rights Commission complaint was launched
by a local citizen who uses a wheelchair, against Kingston
Transit, regarding the lack of wheelchair accommodation on
Kingston Transit buses. Complaints were also made about
misuse of designated parking spaces by able-bodied people,
broken sidewalks and lack of poorly constructed curb cuts
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
and para-ramps, Kingston Access Service‟s bus scheduling,
inaccessibility problems with City of Kingston buildings or
parks, problems with parking meters, need for staff to
attend sensitivity training about accessibility, and Kingston
Transit drivers not waiting for passengers to be seated
before the bus moves.
Other outreach activities over the last twelve months have
included the following:
The Accessibility Coordinator was involved in the
development of a falls prevention awareness campaign,
coordinated by the Public Health Unit, as part of the Stay
on Your Feet Falls Prevention Project, from mid-2005 to
mid-2006.
A staff education campaign was developed to assist with
the planning and staging of accessible meetings. An
information package called “Holding Accessible Meetings”
offers tips from the Canadian Hearing Society and
Canadian National Institute for the Blind, procedures for
using the City‟s portable Assistive Listening System, and
pricing and protocols for hiring American Sign Language
interpreters.5
As part of the research for the “accessible meetings”
project, the MAAC conducted walk-throughs of 211 John
Counter, and the British Whig Building at Princess and
Clarence Streets. Based on this and earlier accessibility
audits, the MAAC has recommended the City of Kingston
Staff and Councillors use meeting rooms in:
- City Hall
- Portsmouth Olympic Harbour
- Rideaucrest
211 John Counter was deemed inaccessible due to
problems with the washrooms.
5
Training sessions on this topic will be offered directly to the “Clerks Office”,
“Planning and Development”, and other departments involved with organizing public
meetings. A training session for staff will be offered in November 2006 through the
Corporate Employee Education & Development (CEED) program.
23
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Other City-owned-or-leased facilities will be assessed in
the future.
An “Accessibility Barrier Report” has been prepared by the
MAAC‟s Communication work group, under the project
leadership of Kim Atwood. The report will be posted in the
City‟s website and print copies will be distributed to key
stakeholder organizations. It is expected that the
completed forms will assist the City in precisely identifying
and mitigating barriers. A copy of the form is found in
Appendix 2.
24
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Accessibility Project Implementation Status Reports
In order to draw attention to the City‟s performance regarding implementation of suggestions
made by the MAAC, City Council endorsed Recommendation #1 of the City‟s 2006 (Year 3)
Accessibility plan (along with the other 12 MAAC recommendations), which requires the City to
undertake the following activity: To develop a template for quarterly status update reports to
Council, reviewing the status of measures completed, and measures in progress, of
recommendations submitted in the 2005 (Year 2) Accessibility Plan and all future Accessibility
Plans.
The quarterly status reports to Council outline what was and was not accomplished, with the
expectation that with this information, Council has the option to acknowledge or commend staff
for exemplary performance to the extent that progress has been made, and/or direct staff to
attend to the accessibility problem if progress has been inadequate. The MAAC hopes that the
quarterly status reports will continue to be the key tool for City Council to assess the efficacy of
the City‟s implementation efforts on MAAC recommendations.
The last three and most recent, quarterly project implementation status reports follow. They
are presented in reverse chronology.
25
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Second Quarter of 2006
Issue Status Comment
Completed
Little/No
Progress
Progress
In
Corporate
New Project: Regional Sports & Entertainment Don Gedge (Project Manager, Sports &
Centre Entertainment Centre) and Sylvia Jacobs (Senior
Architect, Brisbon-Brook-Beynon) discussed
accessibility questions related to the Sports and
Entertainment Centre with the MAAC. It is
expected that further consultations will occur
with Olympia & York, various City departments,
and Ellis Don, as more issues become
articulated.
New Project: Municipal Elections Carolyn Downs (Clerk, Clerk‟s Office) discussed
accessibility issues of the upcoming municipal
elections with the MAAC and invited detailed
feedback from participants and stakeholders not
able to attend this consultation.
Communications
Implementation of MAAC recommendations and
resolutions from Year 3 Accessibility Plan:
Corporate Communications
26
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Issue Status Comment
Completed
Little/No
Progress
Progress
In
Kingston Transit
Implementation of MAAC recommendations and There is a commitment to accommodate
resolutions from Year 3 Accessibility Plan: wheelchairs on buses of at least one Kingston
Kingston Transit Transit route by the end of 2006.
Asset Management
Implementation of MAAC recommendations and Barclay Mayhew (Manager, Asset Management)
resolutions from Year 3 Accessibility Plan: Asset will investigate problems of inaccessibility at 211
Management John Counter, British Whig Building, and Tourism
Information Office washroom.
The elevators at City Hall, John Counter, and the
Courthouse have been made accessible.
27
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
First Quarter of 2006
Issue Status Comment
Completed
Little/No
Progress
Progress
In
Corporate
New Project: Unpaid Work Placements in the Have received support for the concept from core
City of Kingston for people with disabilities ODSP providers, and from HR at CoK. Have had
some consultation with other service providers,
City (regarding Ontario Works), and organized
labour. Further consultation planned.
New Project: Accessible tourism, brochure Briefed Rob Carnegie, KEDCO Tourism Director,
development about municipal accessibility ideas related to
tourism. Provided advice about the preparation
of a KEDCO “accessible tourism” brochure, and
“accessibility training” for volunteers in KEDCO‟s
“Ambassador” tourism outreach program.
Prepared a letter on behalf of the Mayor, for the
KEDCO accessible tourism brochure.
Mapping of accessible features of City of Through the City‟s Information Services
Kingston infrastructure Department, and in consultation with the MAAC,
have produced prototype maps showing key
accessible features of various City buildings.
Further mapping activity, and communications
campaign, to be developed.
28
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Issue Status Comment
Completed
Little/No
Progress
Progress
In
Kingston Transit
Launch of Easier Access partially accessible Good turn-out of Citizens & Councillors at Apr. 4-
Rte. 1 and distribution of “bus hailing” kits 06 inauguration at Kingston Centre Shopping
Mall.
Wheelchair securement One forward-facing and one rear-facing
securement position will be available on every
Route 1 bus by the end of October 2006. Bus
drivers will receive training in wheelchair
securement procedures in September.
Site Plan Guidelines MAAC recommendations for barrier-free design
and a stream-lined evaluation process have been
submitted to Planning for their revision of CoK
Guidelines for applicants. Most applicants have
readily complied with the recommendations
offered by the MAAC (made through the City‟s
Accessibility Coordinator) in their site plan
review.
Communications
Use of Canadian National Institute for the Blind The plan for implementing the use of Verdana on
recommendation for the “Verdana” typeface key City of Kingston documents was not
endorsed by the Corporate Management Team.
Plan for implementing the high priority
29
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Issue Status Comment
Completed
Little/No
Progress
Progress
In
recommendations from the 2004 Accessibility
Audit reports (City Hall, 211 John Counter,
Midland, Social Services)
30
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Fourth Quarter of 2005
Issue Status Comment
Completed
Little/No
Progress
Progress
In
Corporate
Develop a template for quarterly status update
reports to Council, reviewing the status of
measures completed, and measures in
progress, of recommendations submitted in the
2004 Year 2 Accessibility Plan and all future
Accessibility Plans.
Add a new section to all Committee and Council
report templates called “Accessibility
Considerations”, in which the author will explain
what has been, or needs to be, done with
respect to accessibility and the report topic.
Have the appropriate City of Kingston staff plan 1. Install visual alarms, all four buildings
for the implementation of the key 2. Designate & equip “areas of safe refuge”,
recommendations from 2004 Accessibility City Hall & John Counter
Audits with the goal of preparing an 3. Improve access through front entrance at
implementation plan, to include timelines and John Counter
costs. 4. Improve exterior staircase nosings, add
non-slip surface, City Hall
5. Improve accessibility in Council
Chambers, City Hall
6. Upgrade exterior signage & road
31
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Issue Status Comment
Completed
Little/No
Progress
Progress
In
markings, all four buildings
7. Provide wheelchair accessible reception
desk, City Hall & John Counter
Of the seven priorities, only #3 has been
addressed.
Adopt the Universal Design Standards as a Grand Theatre
minimum standard for key construction projects LVEC
Market Square
Multiplex Sports Complex
New Police Headquarters
Good efforts by Project Managers to consult with
the MAAC.
Kingston Transit
Provide a critical path with dates for
implementing full accessibility on all Kingston
Transit bus routes by 2015, as stated in the
Kingston Transit Business Plan, by March 31,
2006.
Develop a communications strategy regarding
the Easier Access (partially accessible bus)
route, by December 31, 2005.
Develop an audible information strategy to The MAAC has endorsed the delegation of this
improve service to people with disabilities, by project to the City‟s Accessibility Coordinator, for
December 31, 2005. implementation by early 2007.
32
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Issue Status Comment
Completed
Little/No
Progress
Progress
In
Implement a bus-card alerting system, to assist
people with vision disabilities at bus stops, by
March 31, 2006.
Provide accessibility sensitivity training to all One-hour training was provided to the Kingston
the members of the Kingston Transit Advisory Transit Advisory Committee by the Independent
Committee, by March 31, 2006. Living Centre at their monthly meeting in
September.
Client Services
To develop a plan for the installation of Bell Canada has been directed by the CRCT to
“teletypewriter (TTY)” and “volume-controlled” install these devices in all new installations
pay-phones, replacing existing pay-phones in starting sometime next year. With existing
all City-owned facilities, by March 31, 2006. payphones, the CRTC directs Bell Canada to
install one (1) TTY machine at each bank of four
(4) Bell payphones by the end of 2006; and one
(1) at each bank of three (3) telephones by the
end of 2007. All Bell public payphones have
volume control handsets. They also have the
LED display which also gives prompts of
information. There has been no directive on
braille yet.
To pilot a safe, accessible pathways project Activities in other departments are addressing
(incorporating as many features of the some of the needs identified in this project. As a
“SafeRoutes” concept as possible), as soon as result of the decreased urgency of this project,
is reasonable. SafeRoutes will be reflagged as a low-priority
33
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Issue Status Comment
Completed
Little/No
Progress
Progress
In
project. It will likely be reexamined when
accessible tourism becomes a strategic focus for
the MAAC.
34
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Budgeting for Municipal Accessibility
At the outset of the enactment of the ODA in 2003, most
municipalities, including the City of Kingston, did not plan, or
budget, for accessibility.6 In the City of Kingston today, the
level of awareness about barrier identification and removal
has increased, relative to pre-2003 levels, as witnessed by
the annual departmental reports collected in preparation for
each of the City‟s annual accessibility plans. There is
however, an absence of a consistent format or requirement
for individual departments, or the City as a whole, to budget
for accessibility.
The next section, “The Province of Ontario Perspective”,
describes the principal budgeting and work process
approaches used by municipalities in the early ODA years
(2003 and 2004). The approach taken by the City of
Kingston is most like that described in Option 2a and 2b.
The last section in this chapter of the 2007 Accessibility Plan
- “The Municipality Perspective”, reflects the later AODA
years (2005 and 2006). The report discussed in this section,
which was prepared for the Association of Municipal Clerks
and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO), concludes that because
the Province‟s accessibility standards have not been
established yet, it is difficult to anticipate the financial
impact of the AODA to municipal budgets. The report also
concludes that a lack of clarity exists regarding the
compliance and enforcement roles of the Municipal
Accessibility Advisory Committees.
In response to the increased complexity and quantity of
current accessibility issues encountered by municipalities,
and in light of what is assumed will be even greater
municipal responsibilities once the Province‟s accessibility
6
Some of municipalities that were early leaders included Kitchener-Waterloo, Halton
Region, London, Peterborough, and Ottawa.
35
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
standards are enacted, of the eight municipalities surveyed
in the report discussed in this section, four have, or will
likely have, at least one Full Time Employee (FTE) dealing
with the AODA and accessibility issues. Two other
municipalities surveyed in the report said that they expect to
address the anticipated increased work load through
“building inspectors”, “their MAAC”, or “increased
responsibilities for existing staff”.
A final point to make about budgeting for accessibility is that
many of the remediations can be costly… a single project
like a wheelchair ramp, or the purchase of a low-floor bus,
can exceed $75,000.
Province of Ontario Perspective
(Source: “Accessibility Advisory Committee Handbook”,
Ministry of Community and Social Services, Accessibility
Directorate of Ontario, 2004.)
Option 1: Some municipalities have a dedicated
“accessibility fund” integrated within their yearly budgeting
process to ensure accessibility initiatives are implemented
over a specific time period. This has been considered a best
practice as it ensures accessibility recommendations that are
brought forward by MAACs and municipal staff have financial
support behind them.
Municipalities that have adopted a dedicated “accessibility
fund” include the cities of Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and
Peterborough. Dedicated annual funds for accessibility
improvements generally range between $50,000 and
$75,000. However, this is at the discretion of each
municipality based on the needs that are identified.
There is no limit to how much can be reserved in a dedicated
accessibility fund by each municipality, however the revenue
municipalities may derive from sources such as licensing
36
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
fees and user fees cannot exceed the municipality‟s
program-related costs.
Option 2a: As an alternative to establishing a dedicated
accessibility fund, municipal departments may choose to
incorporate accessibility budget planning within their regular
budget planning process. Incorporating accessibility issues
makes it a natural part of the process, just like other issues.
Budgeting for accessibility is a proactive step to ensure
accessibility issues are addressed through the
implementation of the municipality's annual accessibility
plan.
Option 2b: Some municipalities have also hired an
accessibility planning coordinator (e.g., the Region of Peel)
to facilitate the accessibility planning process in their
municipality.
Municipality Perspective
(Source: “Urban Commissioner‟s Report”, Judy Green, Policy
Analyst, Office of the Commissioner of Community and
Social Services, Halton Region, April 2006)
Region of Waterloo: Since March 2003 the Region has had
1.0 FTE dedicated to accessibility planning. Staffing
requirements will be reassessed once the full impact of
the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
(AODA) is known.
Region of Peel: Awaiting AODA standards to determine
financial impact of complying with regulations. Existing
staff member will take on AODA responsibilities.
City of London: Awaiting AODA standards to determine
financial impact of complying with regulations. Presently
FTE is not dedicated to the ODA.
City of Hamilton: Awaiting AODA standards to determine
financial impact of complying with regulations.
37
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Anticipating the need for one FTE to implement and
administer the AODA.
York Region: Anticipating that each accessibility standard
will have costs associated with it. Costs will be incurred if
Municipalities will be responsible for the enforcement of
standards. Increased number of inspectors and training.
Region of Halton: The financial and resource impact of
standards will be difficult to assess until the development
committees have been struck and have begun working
potential standards. In addition, the manner in which the
standards will be applied and the level of compliance that
will be required will also have an impact on what
resources might be needed.
City of Ottawa: Council approved one FTE to determine
financial implications of AODA, work with departments in
implementing the AODA, monitor movement towards
compliance, enable communication between divisions and
ensure municipal voice is heard with representation on
committees. One and ½ FTEs for auditing and data entry
support approved by council in anticipation of the AODA
operational implications cost of $100,000. Anticipates
increased long term capital costs and human resources.
City of Windsor: City of Windsor has capital budget
commitment of $200,000 per year since 2003 for
accessibility enhancements. Money is managed by AAC.
Proposal to have $50,000 of the $200,000 earmarked for
non-built environment accessibility, e.g. American Sign
Language interpreters, Braille printers, training courses,
etc.
38
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Municipal Accessibility Advisory
Committee Goals and Recommendations
for 2007
The City‟s MAAC recognized in mid-2005 that the City
needed to attend to the slow progress of implementation on
some of the accessibility recommendations that were made
by the MAAC in 2003 and 2004. To that end, on May 16-06,
City Council unanimously passed the following MAAC
recommendation:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the MAAC draws Council’s attention
to the need for Council to allocate resources to appropriate
staff to undertake, and/or delegate, the implementation of
MAAC recommendations made in each of the City’s annual
accessibility plans, in the areas of “Kingston Transit”, “Asset
Management”, and “Corporate Communications”. The form
of the desired implementation could include, but not
necessarily be limited to:
the preparation of operating plans for the various
accessibility projects, covering a five year period;
the budgeting for accessibility initiatives in every annual
budgeting cycle, beginning in 2006 (for 2007); and
the preparation of budget items within departmental
jurisdictions as part of the City’s ten year capital
projections.
The MAAC is pleased to note that the City of Kingston has
implemented considerable positive change with public
transportation in the second quarter of 2006. The interest
shown by City Council through the reporting and monitoring
process set-up by the MAAC is, to a large degree,
responsible for the improved performance. That being
stated, the MAAC also notes the need for the City to
continue to focus on certain important accessibility issues, in
particular, to physical accessibility barriers at, and within,
City of Kingston facilities.
39
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Goal 1: Allocate more resources for municipal
accessibility
The City‟s Year 3 (2005-06) Accessibility Plan recommended
that money and staff time be allocated to operationalize
MAAC recommendations. This past goal remains the same
for our Year 4 (2006-07) accessibility plan. With the MAAC
resolution passed by City Council on May 16-06, it is
expected that departments across the corporation will begin
to include accessibility issues in their ten-year capital
projections, and to budget for accessibility goods and
services annually, beginning with the 2007 budget.
Specific projects of interest and/or concern to the MAAC in
2007 are:
A safety plan, including specialized features for people
with disabilities, for all City owned buildings.
Physical accessibility improvements at Portsmouth
Olympic Harbour, 211 John Counter, the British Whig
Building, the Pump House Steam Museum, and the
MacLachlan Woodworking Museum.
The accommodation of wheelchairs on at least one
Kingston Transit bus route.
The expansion of partial accessibility to other Kingston
Transit routes (in addition to Route 1).
Improvements for accessibility of key bus stops; including
issues related to snow and ice removal.
Improvements for visual and aural rider communications
on Kingston Transit buses and bus terminals.
An evaluation of accessibility of the City‟s website.
Protocols for organizing accessible special events on City
property.
40
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Budget Recommendations for the City of
Kingston
The increasing number and complexity of accessibility
obligations being announced for municipalities by the
Province, and the growing need for consistent, professional
coordination of municipal accessibility activities to support
the MAAC, have led the MAAC to recommend that the City
elevate the importance of accessibility as a Corporate
priority, and allocate more resources to municipal
accessibility now, and over the next twenty years. As a
result of this, the MAAC recommends:
That the City demonstrate its commitment to municipal
accessibility by assigning at least one full time, permanent
employee (FTE) to support the MAAC and municipal
accessibility activities.
Because of the potential for increased effectiveness gained
by the City in requiring that all its departments and divisions
integrate “budgeting for accessibility”, and based on
consultation with the City‟s Finance Department, and
building on the direction contained in the Council resolution
of May 16-06, the MAAC recommends:
That each department within the City of Kingston adds a
distinct line to its operating budget template, identifying
anticipated accessibility expenses in that department.7
Goal 2: Continue to organize public education
events about accessibility
Recognizing that the Province will soon be announcing its
“customer service” and “transportation” accessibility
standards, and appreciating the high priority given “the need
for staff and public” education by residents in our public
consultations, and by MAAC members, the MAAC again
7
With respect to large capital expenditures, the May 16-06 resolution passed by City
Council already requires staff to “prepare budget items within departmental
jurisdictions as part of the City‟s ten year capital projections”.
41
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
makes accessibility education a priority for the upcoming
year.
Public Education Recommendations for the City
of Kingston
That City Council endorse the development, under the
guidance of the MAAC, of the following projects:
Mapping of accessible features in the City of Kingston
downtown core.
A series of maps designed for people with disabilities could
show in increasing layers of detail, bus stops, bus shelters,
designated parking spots, curb cuts, benches, and accessible
entrances/exits of municipal buildings. Text information
about things like the hours of operation of an automated
door at each building could also be provided. Subsequent
development phases of the map production could include the
expansion of the geographic range of the information
contained in the resource package, the inclusion of other
accessibility features, and hyperlinks to additional
information about features contained in the maps.
With the support of the City‟s Information Systems Division,
and the marketing ability of the Kingston Economic
Development Corporation (KEDCO), this project will
graphically and textually identify and describe the location of
important physical accessibility features useful to residents
and tourists planning to visit a City-owned facility, attend a
City meeting, or pay a City-related bill.
Awards program celebrating progressive local accessibility
practices.
With the possible support of the Downtown Business
Improvement Association, KEDCO, and the Chamber of
Commerce, the MAAC hopes to organize an annual event,
42
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
with broad community appeal, that would acknowledge and
profile “best case” accessibility practices in our City.
“Accessibility Is More Than A Ramp – II”
The City‟s first cross-disability public education event,
organized by the MAAC at Rideaucrest Long-Term Care
Facility on November 8-05, drew over 90 people.
Components of the event included an information fair with
over 20 local service providers, presentations by 3 guest
speakers, and 4 panel discussions on municipal accessibility
issues.8 The MAAC deemed the AIMTAR event successful,
and intends to continue staging this conference every
second year. This year‟s conference will likely be held again
at Rideaucrest, in November.
8
An outline and review of the November 2005 day-long conference at Rideaucrest
Long-Term care facility can be found on the City website at:
http://www.cityofkingston.ca/pdf/cityhall/committees/accessibility/AIMTAR_evaluatio
n.doc
43
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Appendix 1: Comments from the Public on
the 2007 (Year 4) Plan
From: Mary Gartenburg
Sent: August 10, 2006 3:08 PM
To: Kaplan, Barry
Subject: Year 4 Accessibility Plan Draft
Barry, Thanks for sending me a copy of the Year 4 Accessibility Plan.
Having spent 2005 on the AAC, I am amazed, excited, and grateful for the advances made on
2006! It seemed to me last year that "the wheels ground very slowly", but have certainly gained
momentum since. Congratulations!
From: Mary Gartenburg
Sent: August 14, 2006 9:36 AM
To: Kaplan, Barry
Subject: Year 4 Plan
Barry, I do not understand the “Solid Waste” issue. What firms submitted
proposals, and for what? What does “OS’ stand for, and what connection does it
have with Emergency Services?
I don‟t have specific info about which firms. In general terms, this
department would buy goods and services for the City that enable it to
undertake various functions related to garbage collection and
recycling. If you want this information, please let me know, and I‟ll
track it down. “OS-SW” is an acronym for Operations-Solid Waste. I‟ve
attached the City‟s guidelines of Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
Have I missed something, or overlooked reference to Emergency Safety measures for
disabled? - for such as a blackout due to overload, a toxic spill or fire, a large explosion,
etc.?
Regrettably, the creation and practicing of “safety plans and
procedures” was recommended each year by the MAAC, starting with
the 2003 (Year 1). There are plans in place that respond to existing
legislative requirements. But the City has not comprehensively
addressed the needs of people with disabilities to the MAAC‟s
satisfaction. Some City buildings have good plans and provisions for
people with disabilities. Rideaucrest and the Social Services building on
Montreal Street are good examples. Other buildings and arenas are
less attentive to the needs of people with disabilities. It is an issue the
44
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
MAAC continues to press with the City‟s “Asset Management”
department.
I can well understand requirement for a full time employee to assist with the local ODA
work. How likely is that to become a reality? Page 18 “to assign a communications
officer” – is that intended to be other than a FTE?
The full time FTE refers to the annual contract position that I currently
fulfill. The intention of the MAAC resolution is to have the City provide
long term stability to the existing, and ever-increasing level of work
required in this portfolio, and to support the MAAC. This wouldn‟t
require “new” money. Rather, it would replace the current budget
requirement of extending the annual Accessibility Coordinator contract,
with a more predictable permanent staff position.
The “communications officer” references recommendations in the Year
3 (2004) Plan that request the advice and exceptional involvement of a
person(s) from the City‟s Communications Department. This would not
entail any “new” money.
“To reinforce the requirement for a “footer” –( I don’t understand the term, but you can
explain that to me sometime later).
In the Year 4 (2004) Plan, Council approved various MAAC
recommendations to make print communications more accessible. One
of the recommendations was that a footer (the bottom margin of a
document where the page number is generally located) contain a
notice that “information is available in alternate format upon request”.
The City has been adding this footer to its advertisements, but only
inconsistently. Our recommendation is that the MAAC strengthen its
relationship with the City‟s Communication Department so that we can
improve the consistency of the use of this notice, and to proactively
encourage staff to add the notice when they communicate with the
public in advertisements, flyers, etc.
I applaud the objective of the possibility of closed captioning of City Council meetings.
What does “RFP” stand for?
RFP = Request for Proposal. The City‟s Communications Department
has committed to investigate this issue.
I attended the Spring session of “Stay on you Feet”. Good info/suggestions. Didn’t realize
that you were involved. That’s good.
45
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
The City‟s “Customer Service” Manager was also involved. At various
times, representatives from the City‟s “Engineering” and
“Roads/Sidewalks” departments also attended meetings.
A staff education … for using (and care of) the City’s portable Assistive Listening
System is great. How can I get a copy of the manual?
I‟ve attached the print material I make available to staff. I will be
conducting a few training sessions for staff on “how to hold an
accessible meeting” over the next few months. Kym Clark from the
CHS will likely be a co-presenter to the session.
Site Plan Review – should considerations/requirements not include installation of good
acoustics for the 21 century?
Site Plan Review, according to the terms of the ODA, only takes into
consideration the external site upon which a building is located. It
addresses things like accessible parking, landscaping, and signage
issues. On City-owned projects, the MAAC does assess the interior of
the buildings. In these cases, acoustics and assistive listening systems,
are issues that are assessed.
Do you make the “Accessibility Project Implementation Status Reports” available
quarterly? No doubt they are posted on the website?
The quarterly reports are available to the public in that they are
Information Reports that go to City Council. These reports should be
available through the Clerk‟s Office. But you‟ve raised a good point
about the ease-of-use of getting these reports. I‟ve asked Sunni to
speak with the City‟s webmaster to create a link to these reports next
to the link that takes a person the MAAC minutes.
All the quarterly reports, updated to Aug. 5-06, are contained in the
2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan, pp.23 – 28.
From: Jewel Marshall
Sent: August 16, 2006 6:59 PM
To: Accessibility - City of Kingston
Subject: comments
I have just looked at the draft of the City's Plan to make Kingston Accessible.
I was quite glad to see that someone has complained regarding the total lack of accessibility of
the new Keg restaurant downtown. I went there in July with a friend and that is the first thing I
noticed. I have 2 sons with Muscular Dystrophy who are in power wheelchairs and there is no
46
City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
way anyone in a power wheelchair can get into that restaurant. In this day and age it is hard to
believe that a new restaurant (I know it was a older building that was renovated) would not be
accessible.
I have received numerous communications expressing concern, from
residents and visitors, about the new Keg restaurant. The Keg‟s
position, as I understand it, is that they were not required to make
their facility accessible. The City‟s ability to require barrier-free design,
according to the City‟s Building and Licensing Department, is restricted
because the Ontario Building Code requires that when existing
Buildings are renovated, the do not require barrier-free access UNLESS
the main entrance door(s) are being relocated, newly created, etc..
Additionally, the City‟s jurisdiction to enforce Ontario Building Code
standards related to accessibility (section 3.8 of the 1997 Ontario
Building Code standards) only addresses the lot or site the building is
situated in, not the interior.
The other issue I did not see mentioned in the draft is accessible washrooms. Many times I am
out in the community with my sons and when they need to use the washroom there is no
separate individual accessible bathroom so lots of times they must come into the women's
washroom with me and they are 12 and 20 years old. Totally embarrassing for them. Frontenac
mall has a great separate accessible washroom as does Zellers. But in the Cataraqui Town
Center the family washroom in the food court is not big enough for a wheelchair. It would be nice
that in a public buildings, malls, etc there be a separate accessible washroom available.
The City‟s jurisdiction related to private sector organizations is limited
to the assessment of accessibility of the exterior setting of new or
renovated buildings. The Province will be developing improved
standards for accessibility in “the built environment” that we may see
in the next year or two, that will address the private sector. City-
owned buildings and facilities currently are expected to be barrier-free,
and the City of Kingston‟s Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee
(MAAC) has made many recommendations to the City about how this
goal can be achieved. The MAAC is currently encouraging the City to
investigate ways to improve the accessibility of the public washroom at
the Tourist Information Centre in Confederation Park (across from City
Hall). Washrooms in newly constructed City arenas and marinas are
being built to barrier-free standards.
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
Appendix 2: Accessibility Barrier Report
CITY OF KINGSTON
ACCESSIBILITY BARRIER REPORT
The purpose of this form is to report problems that you have
experienced related to accessibility within the City of
Kingston. Your help with identifying these barriers is
important and appreciated. This report will be sent to the
City of Kingston‟s Accessibility Coordinator for follow-up.
Examples of locations that you can report using this form:
City Hall, Artillery Park Recreation Centre, City Park, The
Grand Theatre, and other places and property owned by the
City of Kingston.
Reported barriers may include, but are not limited to:
Buildings or areas not adequately accessible to users of
mobility aids (e.g. wheelchairs), infant strollers or
pedestrians.
Outdoor hazards e.g. blocked or damaged sidewalks,
overgrown shrubs, inadequate snow or ice removal,
malfunctioning lights or cross-walk devices etc.
Indoor hazards e.g. tripping hazards, inadequate
lighting, inadequate alarm systems, rooms or areas
inaccessible to users of mobility aids (e.g. wheelchairs).
Communication barriers involving service provision or
customer service.
Transportation barriers involving Kingston Transit,
bicycle paths or local roads.
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
If you have questions or encounter difficulty filling out this
form then please contact:
Barry Kaplan
Accessibility Co-ordinator,
Community Development Services Group,
Planning & Development Department
City of Kingston, 216 Ontario Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L
2Z3
Telephone: 613-546-4291 Extension 3182 Fax: 613-
384-6645
E-mail: bkaplan@cityofkingston.ca
May we contact you for more information? YES NO
If yes then please provide your name, telephone or e-
mail address
on the back of this page. Your personal information
will be kept confidential.
You will be contacted by Barry Kaplan, Accessibility
Coordinator for the City of Kingston.
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City of Kingston 2007 (Year 4) Accessibility Plan
CITY OF KINGSTON
ACCESSIBILITY BARRIER REPORT
YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT
CONFIDENTIAL.
Your Name:
Your Telephone: Your E-mail:
WHERE IS THE ACCESSIBILITY BARRIER?
Location Name:
Location Address (if known):
Where at this location is the problem located, found or
most severe?
PLEASE DESCRIBE THE ACCESSIBILITY ISSUE BELOW.
Please draw a diagram if possible.
Please attach an additional page if necessary.
For office use only.
Date Received: Sent to:
The contact information on this form is collected under the authority of the Ontarians
with Disabilities Act, 2001 and will be used to assist City staff to keep the submitter
of this form informed about accessibility issues. Questions regarding this collection
can be sent to the Accessibility Coordinator using the contact information shown on
the first page.
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