Body: Council Type: Document Meeting: Committee Date: 2019 Collection: Agenda Attachments Municipality: Frontenac County
[View Document (PDF)](/docs/frontenac-county/Item Attachments/Agenda Item/2019/September/2019-100 Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee Quarterly Update Report – Q2 & 3/Quarterly Update Report - Q2 and 3.pdf)
Document Text
Report 2019-100 Committee Report To:
Chair and Members of the Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee
From:
Jannette Amini, Manager of Legislative Services/Clerk
Date of meeting: September 10, 2019 Re:
Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee – Quarterly Update Report – Q2 & 3
Recommendation This report is for information purposes only. Background The Accessibility Advisory Committee is mandated to assist County and Township Councils in the County of Frontenac in enabling persons with disabilities to have equal access to all opportunities within the County as well as work with Council and the community at large to identify and address the needs of persons with disabilities within the community. Comment The follow is a list of accessibility updates and activities that have occurred during Q2 & 3 of 2019:
- Community Accessibility Upgrades Accessible Transportation Pilot Program Survey – Frontenac Transportation Services During the 2018 budget deliberations, Frontenac Transportation Services requested $20,000 of additional funding to cover the reduction in third party rides projected for 2017/2018 and that this be funded on an on-going basis as long as the trend in the reduction of third party rides continued. County Council allowed for a onetime funding of $20,000 to be funded from the Seniors Transportation Reserve, to be monitored for success, in support of this request. As part of the monitoring, staff were advised by FTS that at the end of 2018, Frontenac Transportation Services had spent a total of $11,769 leaving a balance of $8,231 to return to the County of Frontenac. FTS indicated in its report that it would like to propose to the County of Frontenac that this funding be set aside to fund accessible transportation. In 2018 FTS hosted a pilot project to fund accessible transportation; however, despite advertising and working with the local services providers, there was a minimal response for funding at that time. The $10,000 allocated for the program was not
required for rides, with only $891.16 being spent to promote the program. Earlier this year, Frontenac Transportation Services was asked to fund an accessible ride; however the funding was no longer available from the County of Frontenac. Frontenac Transportation Services would like to have a discussion with the Accessible Advisory Committee regarding accessible transportation before sending a request to County Council. 2. Transportation Services for the County of Frontenac In 2012, Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation (SFCSC) and Rural Frontenac Community Services (RFCS) came together to form a collaborative entity to provide rides for residents of Frontenac County through the Frontenac Transportation Service (FTS). Since its inception, the County of Frontenac has provided an annual funding contribution of $96,000 (2018 contribution). This partnership between RFCS and SFCSC was terminated in early 2018, resulting in the County receiving two separate requests for portions of the $96,000 funding allocation. As a result, the County split the $96,000 equally among the two agencies through a 1 year contract. Based on quarterly reports submitted by both agencies to the County of Frontenac, the following is provided for the Committees information. It should be noted that the SFCSC mandate is only that of seniors whereas the mandate of RFCS includes those on low income: Rural Frontenac Community Services
Southern Frontenac Community Services
Ride provided
Q1
Q2
Q1
Q2
Rides to Seniors
32%
68%
93%
95%
Rides to Low Income
68%
70%
0%
N/A
Adults with Disabilities
N/A
N/A
7%
N/A
- Accessibility Training Under the AODA, all employees and volunteers of the County of Frontenac and the Townships must be trained on the Customer Service Standard, the Information and Communications Standard, the Employment Standard, the Transportation Standard and the Design of Public Spaces Standard as well as the Human Rights Code. This training includes members of Council. AODA training was provided to a number of new employees including 24 new Paramedic recruits. Accessible Document Training was provided to administrative and Planning staff for the County of Frontenac on Tuesday, August 20th. This training was also open to Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee – Quarterly Update Report – Q2 & 3 September 10, 2019
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Township staff. 2 members of the Township of South Frontenac attended this training. A Working Minds workshop was provided to the County’s Management Team on Friday, August 23. The Working Minds is a course designed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada aimed at reducing the stigma of mental illness in the workplace. 4. 2019 Access Award A call for nominations for the 2015 International Day of Persons with Disabilities Access Award will commence during the week of September 16, 2019, with nominations due by Friday, November 29, 2019. With respect to the timing and presentation of the award, it was originally proposed that this be presented at the December Council meeting for two reasons, with the first being that the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities Day falls on December 3rd of each year and that by having the award presented at County Council brings greater recognition given that the press is in attendance. In 2017, the Committee supported the proposal by staff to, moving forward, have the award ceremony take place during the Warden’s reception, typically in October or November. This would allow for a much larger audience as typically the Warden’s reception has over 100 invited guests, including members of the press. It also takes place in the evening, making it more accessible to those who work or have commitments during the day. In light of the recent funding cuts announced by the Province, and the state of financial uncertainty, Warden Higgins has opted to not hold the Warden’s reception in 2019. As a result, the Access Award will be presented at the December 18, 2019 County Council meeting. 5. Accessibility Compliance Reporting 2019 is a reporting year for AODA compliance for businesses and non-profit organizations with 20 or more employees, and designated public-sector organizations. The compliance report confirms that the organization has met its current accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Strategic Priorities Implications Priority 1: Get behind plans that build community vitality and resilience in times of growth and change. This priority responds to high interest as well as concern shared broadly across the County that communities in the Frontenacs be well supported with infrastructure and services essential to vitality and sustainability in today’s world. Financial Implications There are no direct financial implications associated with this report.
Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee – Quarterly Update Report – Q2 & 3 September 10, 2019
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Organizations, Departments and Individuals Consulted and/or Affected Richard Allen, Manager of Economic Development Eric Korhonen, Township of North Frontenac Donna Longmire, Township of Central Frontenac Sherry Corneil, Township of South Frontenac Darlene Plumley, Township of Frontenac Islands
Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee – Quarterly Update Report – Q2 & 3 September 10, 2019
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