Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting, February 13, 2025
Attendance
Members present included Councillor Grace Whitlock, who represents Ward 4 on the committee, and six resident members. The group was led by the Chair, a resident member. City staff in attendance included Katrina Doucet, the City's Accessibility Coordinator, who provided updates on city-wide projects.
Delegations
A resident who uses a mobility scooter shared feedback on the new downtown sidewalks, noting that some ramps are too steep for independent use. A resident who is deaf discussed the need for reliable live captioning during public meetings. Both speakers were thanked for their time and contributions.
Reports and decisions
Sidewalk audit update. The committee reviewed the spring sidewalk audit across the downtown grid. Members agreed that ramps at Mercer and Tamsin Streets need a gentler slope to meet accessibility standards. The audit results will guide the Roads & Winter Maintenance team as they plan repairs this spring. Carried.
Transit app improvements. Staff presented a plan to add voice navigation to the Wrenford Transit app. The committee recommended adding a high-contrast mode for older residents and those with low vision. The Transit Manager will review the high-contrast request before the next budget meeting. Carried.
Public meeting accessibility. The committee discussed making all future council meetings fully accessible online. They recommended adding live captioning to all recordings so you can follow along easily. The City Clerk's Office will test the captioning service for the March meeting. Carried.
Parks and recreation access. Members reviewed the new playground equipment at Riverside Flats Park. They noted that the rubber mulch is hard to navigate for wheelchairs and strollers. Parks staff will look into paved pathways for the summer repair season. Carried.
By-laws
No new by-laws were passed at this meeting. The committee only makes recommendations to Council. You can view the full list of current by-laws on the By-laws page.
Adjournment
The meeting ended at 4:15 p.m.