Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee's
TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
(GTSC)
MEETINGS
The Transporation Sub-Committee receives time on the agenda of each Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRRAC) meeting as required for issues as they arise. GRAAC meetings are held the fourth Thursday of the month from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the main floor Conestoga Room at the City of Kitchener office located at 200 Frederick Street.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
1.0 Name of Committee
This committee, as a sub committee for Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (the "GRAAC") shall be named GRAAC ~ Transportation Sub Committee (GTSC).
2.0 Definitions
Within this Terms of Reference the term:
"barrier" means,
anything that prevents a person with a disability from fully participating in all aspects of society because of his or her disability, including a physical barrier, an architectural barrier, an information or communications barrier, an attitudinal barrier, a technological barrier, a policy or practice; ("obstacle")
"disability" means,
(a) any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device,
(b) a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability,
(c) a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes, involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language,
(d) a mental disorder, or
(e) an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997; ("handicap")
"municipality" means,
the participating municipalities listed in Schedule "A".
"councils" means,
the elected Councils of the municipalities.
Participating Councils’ in the GRAAC are listed in Schedule "B".
"pedestrian" means,
an individual who travels by foot or by assistive devise such as wheelchair, scooter or walker.
"scheduled organization" means,
the participating scheduled organizations listed in Schedule "C".
3.0 Mission Statement of the GTSC (GRAAC Transportation Sub Committee)
The GTSC shall:
Develop recommendations to achieve equal access to transportation throughout Waterloo Region for all residents including persons with disabilities.
4.0 Duties
4.1 Identify key transit accessibility issues relating to conventional and specialized services and other transportation barriers.
4.2 Research the impacts, causes and potential solutions of the issues.
4.3 Monitor results of changes.
5.0 Scope
The committee will examine transportation issues within the scope of municipal responsibility. These issues may include: travel by pedestrians, transit (conventional or specialized transit); taxi or use of a personal vehicle.
6.0 Committee Size and Composition
6.1 Membership
The GTSC will be comprised of 4-8 members of whom 75% will be GRAAC members. Each representative will have one vote. A majority of the GTSC members will be persons with disabilities. The committee will strive to have representation of a broad range of transportation experiences. I.e. conventional and/or specialized transit, driving own vehicle and pedestrians.
Staff and Councillors may serve as non-voting resources to the committee.
7.0 Qualifications & Selection of Members
All members of GTSC will be appointed by GRAAC based on the following criteria:
° Having a disability;
° Having experience with transportation barriers;
° Having committee experience;
° Mix of rural and urban representation.
In order to avoid potential conflict of interest, municipal employees are not eligible to be voting citizen/layperson members of the GRAAC.
8.0 Length of Term of Appointments
Terms of GRAAC members on the GTSC shall coincide with their term on GRAAC. If a GRAAC members’ term is renewed, their re-appointment to GTSC will be reviewed by GRAAC for renewal.
Non GRAAC members will have a one year term to be reviewed annually by GRAAC for renewal.
9.0 Committee Procedures and Operations
9.1 Meeting Chair
A committee chair will be elected annually from committee members.
A vice chair will be elected annually from committee members to preside over meetings and committee business when the committee chair is unavailable.
9.2 Minutes and Agendas
Minutes will be taken and distributed by the Committee's Administrative Support Person. Agendas will be assembled and distributed by the Committee's Administrative Support person in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair. Agendas and minutes will be distributed no less than one (1) week prior to the meeting. Minutes will also be distributed to all GRAAC and Specialized Transit Advisory Committee (STSAC) members.
9.3 Meetings
The GTSC members will determine a schedule of dates, times and location of meetings, but the Committee will meet no less than (4) times/year.
Meetings will be open to the public except if the subject matter being considered is within a category defined in Section 239 (2) or (3) of the Municipal Act, in which case the meeting may be closed. When a matter is considered in a closed meeting, members shall maintain confidentiality of the subject matter.
9.4 Quorum
A Quorum shall consist of a majority of the voting members appointed to the committee.
9.5 Voting
Members will work toward a consensus model for decision making, if this is not possible a simple majority vote will be held.
9.6 Delegations
Public delegations as per the committees mandate and scope are welcome to attend GTSC meetings. Delegations may address the committee for 5 minutes and the committee may grant an additional 5 minutes.
9.7 Reporting and Communication
The GTSC will provide advice and report to GRAAC.
The GTSC Chair or designate will be the official spokesperson to the media and the public.
9.8 Conflict of Interest
GRAAC voting members will be subject to the Conflict of Interest Policy.
9.9 Absences
If a committee member is absent for three consecutive meetings without notice or justifiable reason, their membership will be reviewed by the Committee.
9.10 Remuneration
Committee members shall serve without remuneration. Expenses related to the accommodation of persons with disabilities in order to participate in GTSC meetings shall be compensated.
9.11 Working Groups
The GTSC may establish as required working groups to research and make recommendations to the GTSC with respect to specialized issues assigned to such working group by the GTSC.
Working groups may draw upon members from the GTSC and may include individuals who are not members, such as municipal staff, as well as outside resource members as necessary. This may include from time to time the advice or participation of individuals or organizations with a particular area of expertise.
SCHEDULE A
Participating municipalities are the municipalities of: The Corporation of the City of Kitchener, The Corporation of the City of Waterloo, The Regional Municipality of Waterloo, The Corporation of the Township of North Dumfries, The Corporation of the Township of Wellesley, and the Corporation of the Township of Woolwich.
SCHEDULE B
Participating Councils are the Councils of the Corporation of the City of Kitchener, the Corporation of the City of Waterloo, The Regional Municipality of Waterloo, The Corporation of the Township of North Dumfries, The Corporation of the Township of Wellesley, The Corporation of the Township of Woolwich.