Mission

The Rural Municipality of Springfield provides high quality municipal services to our community through effective leadership, fiscal responsibility, and safe sustainable practices.

Vision

Springfield has it all!

An inclusive “Community of Communities” which embraces the views and lifestyles of people of all ages and all walks of life.

We enjoy pristine water resources, a sustainable natural environment, and the unparalleled beauty of Birds Hill Park and a wide range of recreational opportunities including a rich equestrian way of life.

From Rural to small-town living with modern urban amenities, we offer a variety of lifestyle choices.

Our robust and diverse agriculture base is complemented by a thriving economy and a sustainable, resilient infrastructure. This combined with our community-oriented governance and high- quality municipal services makes Springfield the IDEAL place to live, work, play and stay.

Statement of Commitment

The Rural Municipality of Springfield through its Vision, Mission Statement and core values is committed to ensuring all community members have equal access to all our services and facilities regardless of their abilities. We are committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in inclusion. We are committed to meeting the needs of people who face accessibility barriers by identifying, removing and preventing these barriers and by meeting the requirements of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act.

Background

On December 5, 2013, The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) was passed. This Act provides the process to identify, prevent and remove barriers for all citizens. Part of the act mandates municipalities with a population over 10,000 must have an Accessibility plan in place by December 31, 2016 and must be updated every two years.

The act stipulates the development of five (5) accessibility standards that will take place over the next few years. As they are implemented municipalities will have to adopt the standards.

The five standards are:

1. Customer Service Policy
2. Information and communication
3. Transportation
4. Employment
5. Built environment

The Customer Service Accessibility Standard requires Provincial organizations establish and implement measures, policies and practices that:

• Identify and remove barriers to accessible customer service, or if it cannot be removed, find alternative means to provide the goods or services.
• Allow assistive devices such as service dogs, wheelchairs and oxygen.
• Allow support persons to enter and remain with the customer.
• Inform the public when accessibility services are not available.
• Develop a procedure to receive and respond to feedback regarding accessibility.
• Ensure all employees are trained on the Customer Service Standard.
• Ensure that Public Events are accessible.

Overview

Springfield is a community of over 16,000 and expanding. Our unrivalled combination of beautiful vistas, small town charm, attractive tax structures and proximity to Winnipeg have positioned Springfield as one of the fastest growing municipalities in the Capital region. Springfield is a diverse and multifaceted community, offering residents and visitors alike the wide-open spaces of Cooks Creek and Hazelridge, as well as the small-town hospitality of Anola and Dugald, and the urban atmosphere of Oakbank.

We have approximately 165 full-time, part-time and seasonal municipal employees working in a wide range of disciplines and career fields. We are proud of the service we deliver to Springfield residents and hope you take every opportunity to excel in your services to the community.

The Municipality of Springfield has formed a working group to create a municipal accessibility plan. The goal of the plan is to ensure all community members have equal access to all municipal services and facilities regardless of their ability.

RM of Springfield’s Accessibility Working Group

The following individuals were part of the Municipality of Springfield’s Working Group:

Doug Murray Manager of Facilities
Christina Discher Planning Assistant
Colleen Draper Chief Administrative Officer
Tiffany Fell Mayor
Shawn Wilkinson Director of Community Services
Kristy Groenheide Administrative Clerk

Accessibility Achievements

The Working group identified several areas where we can improve accessibility by removing barriers. The group also looked at the Municipality of Springfield’s accessibility achievements.

• All front desk staff have received customer service training. The Municipality will use the Manitoba governments Customer Service training module to continue to train current and new staff.
• Established a Return-to-Work program, which provides accommodations for staff injured on the job.
• Smooth surface pathways have been installed in some communities.
• Detectible warning surface tiles have been installed for visually impaired accessibility on some pathways.
• Pedestrian corridor has been installed in Anola, outfitted with accessible pedestrian pushbuttons and flashing lights.
• Handi van Services are available for all Springfield residents.
• Accessible surfacing and play features added at the playgrounds throughout the municipality.
• Springfield Community Splash Pad is an accessible space
• Establishing The Springfield Kids First program. This is a fee subsidy program which provides Springfield residents under the age of 18, with lower annual incomes the necessary funds to register for recreation programs in Springfield (up to 50% of total program fees).
• Springfield Services to Seniors program. This program provides ongoing support services to assist seniors or those physically challenged to maintain or enhance their independent lifestyle.
• On-line registration system for recreation programs
• Virtual City Hall software program enables residents to access permit applications, program applications, tax information with online payments that could be made from home.
• Workstation improvements for staff.
• New sidewalk and crosswalk in the town of Anola.

Municipal Office

• Accessible front entrance, complete with wheelchair ramp and automatic door operators.
• Properly marked handicap parking spots with close proximity to front entrance.
• Acoustic panels have been installed in front foyer and in council chambers.
• Accessible reception counters.
• Improved lighting in entrance gallery.

Springfield Police Service

• Accessible reception counter.
• Public has unescorted access to front reception area.

Planning Department

• Automatic door operators are at both front entrances.
• Meeting room is wheelchair accessible. Washrooms have elongated right height toilets complete with grab bars.

Springfield Public Library

• Automatic door operators have been installed at front entrance.
• A family washroom including automatic door operator.
• Accessible front counter.
• Computer work stations can accommodate wheelchairs.
• Parking lot upgrades to repair uneven surfaces and properly marked handicap parking spots.

Dugald Community Club

• Automatic door operators have been installed at front entrance.
• Emergency lighting has been installed for outside patio.
• Parking lot lighting has been improved.
• Fully accessible (Universal) single use washroom with automatic door and change table complete with safety strobe.

Anola Community Club

• Automatic door operators have been installed at front entrance.
• Front entrance has been raised and a non-slip surface was installed.
• Washrooms are barrier free.
• Improved parking lot lighting.

Hazelridge Sports Complex

• Automatic door operator has been installed at front entrance.
• Elongated right height toilets have been installed in handicap stalls.
• New canteen flooring has been installed with non-slip coating.
• New doors with thumb latch have been installed.
• An addition was completed with a 5th dressing room to accommodate female players playing on male teams.

Oakbank Community Club

• Automatic door operator has been installed at front entrance.
• Asphalt has been raised on the east side of building to improve access at player’s entrance.
• A new single use family washroom complete with automatic door operator has been installed.

Cooks Creek Community Centre

• A new gymnasium was added to the existing club and the building is now fully accessible.

Lyncrest Airport Club House

• Handicap parking in front of building.
• Wheelchair ramp to front entrance.
• Handicap accessible washroom has been upgraded to accommodate single use stalls.

Accessibility Barriers
Accessibility refers to the degree in which a product, device, service, or environment is available to be used by all intended audiences. According to the Manitoba Government, there are five identified barriers to accessibility for persons with disabilities. These barriers are attitudinal, organizational or systemic, architectural or physical, information or communications, and technology.

Attitudinal – When people think and act based on assumptions, for example, assuming someone who cannot speak is not able to understand what you are saying.

Information and communication barriers – When information is provided in only one way which not everyone can access. For example, in print format only people who have a difficult time seeing do not have access to a format which works for them.

Technological barriers – Using only one format for service delivery. For example, using only the website for surveys, when not everyone has access to a computer or internet.

Physical and Architectural barriers – When the space around you makes it difficult for you to do something. For example, bathroom sinks too high for someone in a wheelchair to use.

The Municipality of Springfield’s accessibility working group identified many barriers to accessibility. Some of these barriers will be expensive to rectify, while some will cost very little and can be accomplished in a short time frame. While the list can be overwhelming it is important to remember not all of it needs to be accomplished at once, but it provides us with a direction to follow. The following are the barriers which were identified.

Municipal Office

• Automatic door operators for public washrooms.
• Installation of addressable fire alarm complete with strobes.

Oakbank Public Works

• Counters heights are not accessible.
• Installation of addressable fire alarm with strobes.
• Sidewalks in the municipality have uneven surfaces.

Oakbank Fire Hall

• Automatic door operators on washroom doors.
• There is an addressable fire alarm, but strobes are required.

Anola Community Club

• Washrooms require automatic door operators.
• Although washrooms have a barrier free stall, a single use family washroom is required.
• There is an addressable fire alarm but it requires strobes.

Hazelridge Sports complex

• No single use family washroom.
• Washrooms require automatic door operators.
• Installation of addressable fire alarm complete with strobes.

Dugald Community Club

• Installation of addressable fire alarm complete with strobes.

Oakbank Community Club

• Improve wheelchair accessibility at ice level for spectators.
• Installation of addressable fire alarm complete with strobes.

Cooks Creek Community Centre

• With the recent construction of a new gymnasium and upgrades to the existing building no barriers have been identified.

Springfield Curling Club

• Improve exterior and interior signage.
• Installation of addressable fire alarm with strobes.
• Increase handicap parking spots.
• A single use family washroom needs to be considered if space can be found within existing washroom space.

Action 1 - Establish Accessibility Working Group

Actions	Expected outcomes
• Create an Accessibility Plan Working Group	• The Accessibility Plan will be Updated.
• Working Group to list the accessibility achievements	• The RM of Springfield’s Accessibility Plan will be posted on the Municipality’s website and will be available in alternate formats
• Working Group to list accessibility barriers

Action 2 – Communication

Actions	Expected outcomes
• Working Group to develop a process for responding to requests for accessible supports and services.	• Once the processes, procedures and templates are completed they will be provided to all managers and employees to implement
• Develop procedures for services or facilities for customers with disabilities	• Current website will continue to be updated as needed to meet all accessibility requirements
• Working Group to prepare template and procedures for meeting and event planning
• Working Group to prepare procedure and template for alternate format request
• Working Group to develop a process to receive and respond to accessible service feedback and include actions to take
• Update website to improve accessibility for the visually impaired

Action 3 – Staff Awareness and Training

Actions	Expected outcomes
• Working Group to work with HR to ensure that all current staff are trained in the Accessible Customer Service Standard and the Human Rights Code	• It is expected the RM of Springfield will have all current employees trained and a process in place to ensure all new employees and Council receive Accessible Customer Service and Human Rights training.
• Working Group to ensure that Accessible Customer Service and Human Rights Code training is completed with all new employees as part of the HR orientation
• Working Group to ensure the RM of Springfield is fully compliant with the Customer Service Standard.

Action 4 – Make the Plan Public

Actions	Expected outcomes
• Continue to update the accessibility plan.	• Update accessibility plan on the website when required.

Action 5 – Review and Update

Actions	Expected outcomes
• Working Group will meet semi-annually to ensure the plan is updated and include any new accessibility standards	• RM of Springfield will review the plan every two years and include outside organizations and individuals and make any required changes
• Working group will include consultation with outside organizations and individuals on any reviews and updates
• Consult with individuals with disabilities to identify barriers within all municipal and community facilities

Action 6 – Long Term Goals

Actions	Expected outcomes
• The Working Group will work with all Municipal departments to identify barriers which will have lowcost impact to the budget and will start to remove or find alternate solutions to these barriers	• Departments will have the low-cost barriers removed or have solutions to address these barriers and develop a strategy to address accessibility barriers with significant costs
• All Municipal departments will prioritize the barriers identified with a significant budget impact and will work towards having them removed or finding alternate solutions

Conclusion

The Rural Municipality of Springfield through its Vision, Mission Statement and Core Values believe all citizens and visitors of the Municipality of Springfield should have equal access to our services, programs and facilities, regardless of their ability, to maintain a quality of life where they work, live or play. The Municipality of Springfield will continue to work towards identifying, removing and preventing barriers.