Accessibility Report for Council highlights progress to date

There wasn't a lot of attention given to the update from the Accessibility Committee which was delivered to City Council on Monday night as part of their Consent Agenda, perhaps as the Council members had exhausted their conversation themes during the Budget discussion previous. 

However, the report from Veronica Stewart,  Manager of Communications, Engagement and Social Development did get flagged by Mayor Herb Pond for some attention by the public suggesting residents give some time to a quick review of the document.

The Mayor noting of the good work of Committee which is chaired by Miss Stewart.

In her review of the Accessibility Committees progress to date, she outlined the work to date towards the development of an Accessibility plan, which will see some of the elements forwarded to such community partners as Northern Health and Thompson Community Services, along with a public engagement project to come in 2024.

Among some of the progress found to date:

Accessibility Upgrades to the second-floor washroom of the Rec Centre (contingent on grant funding); The above-noted project to make minor accessibility improvements at the pool

Complete Communities assessment that will develop a walkability/complete streets metric to support prioritization of accessibility in transportation corridor upgrades 

Installation of three new or replacement bus shelters in the community, built to accessible standard; 

Upgrades to the light at Fulton St and 3rd Avenue West that will include accessibility chirps 

Completion of the Social Development Assessment that will also include the development of a poverty reduction/equity policy lens toolkit that can be used internally to assess City policy making.

Ms. Stewart also noted of work towards accessibility that will be implemented as part of the move by North Coast Regional District to their new offices on Second Avenue West.

The Accessibility Committee put out the all for members back in March of this year , the initiative a well received one by some of the council membership at the time.

The report for Council can be reviewed below:

click to enlarge

More notes from Monday's City Council session can be reviewed here.