Project Summary: Accessibility - Council Chambers Exterior Ramp
A project to create a permanent accessible egress from the Council Chambers for safety and inclusivity.
Project Summary
Priority: Strategic Public Engagement: Not applicable
Project Name: Accessibility - Council Chambers Exterior Ramp 2-2-11401-310 CC1138
Submitted by: Sarah Jones Director: Ivan Leung, Corporate Administration
Executive Summary
View Royal is striving towards becoming a barrier-free community. Part of this commitment includes ensuring facilities are accessible for all users, including elected officials. An exterior ramp from the Council dais to the ground level is important to ensure the safety of elected officials in the future who may be users of wheeled mobility devices.
Business problem and opportunity
During the 2022 Council Chambers upgrades, an exterior ramp was envisioned but not completed due to funding. Contingencies were made as a short term solution to make the dais stairs easily convertible into a ramp, making interior accessibility possible. With potential nearby work occurring in 2025 for the Parks Shed EV Electrification upgrades, it is the best time to undertake this exterior ramp accessibility project to ensure coordinated efforts, thus potentially lowering costs and disturbance to the Town Hall grounds.
Proposed project objectives
To create a permanent accessible egress for safety from the Council Chambers dais. Inclusion of this project is within the Town's Accessibility Plan: a physical space improvement under the priority area of "employment". Staff would also apply for accessibility related grants to alleviate the full reliance on Casino Revenue, if approved.
Business risks
Without this project, should a person who uses a wheeled mobility device be elected in the future, this project would need to be undertaken in an unplanned, unbudgeted manner to ensure that they can use the emergency exit located behind the Council desk. While a Facilities Plan Project Summary is included in the 2025 budget deliberations – and the results may see long range changes for 45 View Royal Avenue – it is anticipated that any changes are sufficiently distant to not be an impediment to implementing improvement projects at this time.
Proposed sources of funding
Casino revenue. 2-1-00557-866 Grant funding, as available and approved, would reduce the use of Casino revenue.
Costs and benefits
| Costs | FY1 | FY2 | FY3 | FY4 | FY5 | 5-year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital | 15,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15,000 |
| Operational | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 15,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15,000 |
Benefits
| Tangible | Accessibility through the chambers outdoor exit provided for elected officials. |
| Intangible | Removal of barrier for potential candidates; universal access created. |
Recommendation
THAT the Committee recommend the 2025-2029 Financial Plan include Accessibility - Council Chambers Exterior Ramp in 2025 to be funded by Casino revenue.
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