Vernon city councillor pushing for accessibility committee

Oct 16, 2019 | 2:31 PM

A Vernon city councillor would like to see more voices at the table advocating for those living with accessibility issues.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, Coun. Dalvir Nahal put forward a notice of motion that would explore reinstating the accessibility committee in the city.

“I feel it’s important to have another committee that could maybe identify hotspots in the community that the average person or staff is missing,” she said.

The push to bring the motion forward came after people struggling with accessibility brought their challenges to her attention.

Crosswalk buttons on the wrong side, and a lack of paved sidewalks are among some of the challenges those with accessibility issues face on a daily basis, according to Nahal.

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Newer builds in the city are not immune to their share of accessibility challenges either.

Kim Flick, director of community development, explained as a municipality they cannot require building standards above the B.C. building code but there are avenues in the city where people can raise their concerns about accessibility issues.

“We also have set up a system with the social planning council of B.C. So if individuals do have an issue of concerns or things that do come to their attention surrounding accessibility that are an issue, they can contact Annette Sharkey who will then contact appropriate staff,” Flick said.

The accessibility committee disbanded a few years ago and since then those with disabilities have a representative at the advisory planning committee and the transportation committee to provide perspective. But it appears some of those seats meant to shed some light at the advisory planning committee have sat vacant.

“I can’t speak to the length of time that a position has been vacant. I believe there might actually be two positions on that committee for folks with that history or experience,” Flick said.

Council is expected to vote on whether or not to reinstate the committee at the next council meeting.

by Tiffany Goodwein

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