Barrhead Accessibility Coalition asks council for $10,000 annual budget

BARRHEAD - The role of the Barrhead Accessibility Coalition should not be to implement infrastructure upgrades.

That was the consensus of Town of Barrhead councillors at their Nov. 12 meeting when a delegation from the coalition, including spokespeople Jane Wakeford and Nancy Madsen, asked them to consider approving a $10,000 annual budget for the organization.

The coalition would split the budget into two pots; the larger $7,000 pot would be put towards improving infrastructure to improve accessibility, while the smaller $3,000 fund would be earmarked for two accessibility grants that businesses could apply for to help them offset the costs of making their operations more accessible.

Instead, they suggested the coalition consider focusing on disability accessibility awareness and education and draft a potential budget.

Wakeford said the budget was part of a five-year plan the coalition drafted to help improve accessibility and awareness of those with physical disabilities. The town did not include the plan and associated budgets in the public agenda package.

In the first year, she said, the coalition hopes to host an accessibility challenge similar to the one their Westlock counterparts have hosted.

"[The challenge] would be for members of Barrhead town and county councils along with recreation staff so they can experience what it is like for people that have a disability have when trying to access some aspects of our community," Wakeford said.

On the infrastructure front, she said, the coalition hoped to have an annual meeting with Public Works, specifically on the condition and accessibility of sidewalks.

Wakeford added that in future years, the coalition plans to create a recognition program to acknowledge local businesses in their efforts to improve accessibility.

Madsen said Barrhead has a good reputation for being welcoming to people with disabilities, and as such, more people with disabilities are moving to the community.

"[It might also] be because there is already accessible housing or there are a lot of services for them here," she said.

Madsen also quickly pointed out the recent improvements the municipality and the business community have made.

"There are a lot of businesses that have put in [accessibility] buttons and ramps," she said, referring specifically to the improvements the Barrhead Public Library has made. "This is all good, but we want to see more."

Mayor Dave McKenzie agreed that the community has made a lot of strides in accessibility.

"The biggest stride is probably about awareness," he said. "People and businesses are becoming much more aware of the challenges those with disabilities face. And as we travel further down the highway of life, we notice it more."

Coun. Rod Klumph questioned how the coalition planned to use the proposed infrastructure budget.

"Would you contract it out? And what type of projects would you use the $7,000 for?"

Madsen replied that is a decision that would be made after consulting with Public Works but said, most likely, the funds would go towards sidewalk repairs.

Klumph, McKenzie, and councillors Don Smith and Ty Assaf all noted if the council approved their budget request, the $7,000 earmarked for infrastructure wouldn't go far.

 "It probably wouldn't get you even one square," Assaf said, drawing out the square in the air using his fingers.

He then suggested that the coalition reconsider their proposed plan and come back with a more realistic budget.

Smith and McKenzie proposed that the coalition's efforts would be better served by helping the municipality identify problem areas, which would help guide the public works and parks and recreation budgets.

They also suggested that the coalition, instead, might ask council for funds for disability awareness initiatives.

"If you want a budget for that, great," Smith said.

"As for the individual [infrastructure projects]," McKenzie said. "Bring it to us. If it is a large capital project, it might take us two or three years to find and gather the appropriate grants."

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com