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INTERMUNICIPAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ON DISABILITY ISSUES
January 15, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.
Colwood City Hall, 3300 Wishart Road
Councillor Cynthia Day, Acting Chair Karen Slater
Daffoni Pendleton (arrived 8:20 p.m.) Sandy McPherson (recorder)
June Klassen Donna Gramigna
Doug Nutting Sandy Warren
ABSENT
Marnie Essery, Chair (regrets) Lillian Szpak
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m.
Sandy suggested having a roundtable report from each member present.
Members agreed. The agenda was adopted as amended.
MOVED BY: SANDY MCPHERSON
SECONDED: JUNE KLASSEN
That the minutes of the November 20, 2003 Intermunicipal
Advisory Committee on Disability Issues Meeting be adopted.
CARRIED.
Cynthia – Councillor Moen from the City of Colwood will be approaching
the
Chamber of Commerce regarding draw prices for the February 17th Seniors and
Accessible Transit Info Fair. June has obtained transit passes and Doug has
obtained Juan de Fuca recreation passes as draw prizes.
Sandy McPherson – Nothing to report.
Karen Slater – Nothing to report.
Sandy Warren – Sandy, who represents the Westhaven Activity Centre,
reported that the centre closed a few months ago. Prior to the centre closing
Sandy and the director met with the then VIHA Regional Director in charge of
funding. VIHA had contracted Pacific Centre to subcontract Westhaven to serve
the chronically mentally ill. Westhaven was a huge help and in some cases the
only vital support for this population. The process and the decision-making
leading up to the closure of Westhaven are unclear. The contents of the building
were removed and the locks changed. The contents, most of which were
donated, is currently being housed Pacific Centre.
There was some discussion regarding potential sites for relocating the
Westhaven Activity Centre.
Action: Sandy McPherson to contact the acting regional director to ascertain
the
process leading to the closure and what access, if any, there is to the contents
of
Westhaven Activity Centre.
Kelly Reed was contacted and provided the following explanation:
Mr. Reed provided assurance that the funding for an activity centre would be
protected and that it is the intention of mental health services that there
will be
another program begun once a regional director to replace Ms. McNeil has been
hired and has become familiar with the portfolio.
The contents of Westhaven activity Centre are being stored at Pacific Centre
and
if any of the Westhaven customers or donors wish to re-claim any of the
contents they can do so if they can provide a description. Mr. Reed said that
a
claimant receipt would not be required.
Westhaven was closed temporarily due to what appeared to be irresolvable
issues concerning the governance of the centre. Apparently notice was provided
regarding the impending closure.
June - The five-year transit plan was discussed at the January 13th Transit
Commission meeting. Fares and funding constituted the bulk of the discussion.
June outlined three potential revenue streams: fares, property tax levy and
an
increased gas tax. This issue was tabled at the January 13th meeting pending
lobbying of the province regarding an increase in gas tax revenues.
The revised western communities' transit plan has begun. On January21st there
will be a summary of the plan in the Goldstream Gazette. Two drop-in open
houses will be held; January 29th at the Juan de Fuca library from 7 to 9 p.m.
and January 31st in the same location from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In 2006 the plan for Highlands and Sooke will be revisited.
June circulated the Transit Accessible Advisory Committee member list which
consists of 22 people. The IACDI representative was not appointed but Ms.
Essery was.
There will be a letter to the municipalities from the transit commission regarding
the 2004 service review. The deadline for replying will be mid-February.
Doug - met with the Juan de Fuca Parks and Recreation Society to discuss their
human resources based volunteer sector initiative. This is an HRDC funded
initiative with 10 different policy areas.
Action: Doug to e-mail web site to all members.
Doug will be attending a workshop on Feb. 6 / 7 involving the Active Living
Alliance and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Doug also explained that now with the new Oak Bay recreation facilities available
all the recreation facilities are "re-balancing."
Doug spoke briefly about a 12 to 14 week program for leisure and recreational
opportunities aimed at those people requiring physical rehabilitation. This
is a
VIHA sponsored program and the location rotates among the recreation centres,
Panorama being the next and then Juan de Fuca in September. There is an
average of two of these programs offered per year.
5.1 Grant-in-aid letters faxed to local councils - although most municipal
councils
require requests for grant-in-aid to be in before the end of the calendar year
members agreed that the IACDI Chair should make contact with each of the
Westshore municipal councils.
Action: Sandy McPherson to e-mail Marnie.
5.2 Volunteer appreciation dinner - those members who attended the Colwood
volunteer appreciation dinner agreed they enjoyed themselves and were grateful
to the City of Colwood.
5.3 Seniors and Accessible Transit Information Fair - Tuesday, Feb. 17, 10
a.m.
to 2 p.m.
June, who has done most of the organizing, outlined tasks done and tasks to
be
done.
* June to clarify room location
- Although there is no fee attached, in order to ensure sufficient food,
registration will be required to a maximum of 80 people.
* Cynthia volunteered to be the MC.
* Advertising will include the transit web site, RIV news, the Wednesday
edition of the Newsgroup papers and word-of-mouth.
It is intended that there will be mobility aides and therapist representatives
to be
available as informal resources.
Action: Doug currently has a student working with RIV and will ask his student
to organize the therapist representatives to attend.
* June suggested that it would be appropriate to have different agency
brochures available.
Action: Sandy McPherson to contact Marnie regarding a brochure for IACDI as
one does not currently exist.
6.1 Affordable housing article in the Gazette - this item was deferred to the
February meeting and Daffoni volunteered to ask David Stott for information.
Members agreed that another meeting was required before the seniors
accessible transit information fair in order to finalize the plans. Members
agreed
to meet February, 12th in the usual location (Colwood City Hall – Committee
Room) at 7 p.m.
The March 18th meeting, location TBA, will have as its primary focus a de-
briefing of the February 17th event.
By consensus of the majority of members present, the meeting adjourned.