GENERAL COMMITTEE
May 23, 2012
Meeting No. 15
Finance & Administrative Issues Community Services Issues
Chair: Mayor
Frank Scarpitti Chair: Councillor Alex Chiu
Vice Chair: Councillor Carolina Moretti Vice
Chair: Councillor Howard Shore
Environment
& Sustainability Issues Building,
Parks, & Construction Issues
Chair: Councillor
Valerie Burke Chair: Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Vice Chair: Regional Councillor Joe Li Vice
Chair: Councillor Colin Campbell
Alternate formats are available
upon request.
Attendance
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Andy
Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
Jacqueline
Chan, Assistant Town Solicitor
Jim
Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Joel Lustig,
Treasurer
Bill Wiles, Manager
By-law Enforcement & Licensing
Dennis Flaherty, Director, Communications & Community Relations
Bob Walter, Manager
Parks Operations
Kimberley
Kitteringham, Town Clerk
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:07 a.m. with Mayor Frank
Scarpitti in the Chair and Councillor Alex Chiu Chaired Community Services
related items.
DISCLOSURE OF
INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. MINUTES OF THE MAY 14, 2012
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
1)
That the Minutes of the May 14,
2012 General Committee be confirmed.
CARRIED
2. MINUTES OF THE MAY 14, 2012 STORMWATER
AND WASTE RATE FOCUS GROUP RESULTS
COUNCIL WORKSHOP (16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
1) That the Minutes of the May 14, 2012
Stormwater and Waste Rate Focus Group Results Council Workshop be confirmed.
CARRIED
3. MINUTES OF THE MAY 15, 2012,
WATER SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT
COUNCIL WORKSHOP (16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
1) That the Minutes of the May 15, 2012
Water Systems Management Council Workshop be confirmed.
CARRIED
4. 2012 FIRST QUARTER INVESTMENT
PERFORMANCE REVIEW (7.0)
Report Exhibit
1 Exhibit
2 Exhibit
3 Exhibit
4 Exhibit
5 Exhibit
6
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
1) THAT the report dated April 27, 2012
entitled “2012 First Quarter Investment Performance Review” be received.
CARRIED
5. AMENDMENT TO FENCE BY-LAW
(2.19)
Report Attachment
A
The Committee inquired what the common exemptions are. Staff advised that the most common exemption
is related to the height of the fence.
Staff pointed out that any exemption would be done in conjunction with
the neighbours and that the proposed by-law assists staff to work with both
parties involved.
There was brief discussion regarding the maintenance of fences along
public walkways. It was suggested that
staff send a copy of the Town's policy regarding this issue to Members of
Council.
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
1) That the Report entitled “Amendment to Fence By-law” be
received; and,
2) That Council amend the
Fence By-law by enacting the By-law Amendment attached as Appendix ‘A’- Draft
By-law Amendment; and,
3) That Staff be authorized
and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
6. DEVELOPMENT CHARGES DECEMBER 31,
2011 RESERVE BALANCES AND ANNUAL
ACTIVITY OF THE ACCOUNTS (7.11)
Report Schedule
A Schedule
B Schedule
C Schedule
D Schedule
E
Schedule
F
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Deputy
Mayor Jack Heath
1) That the report titled “Development Charges
December 31, 2011 Reserve Balances and Annual Activity of the Accounts” be
received be received by Council as required under Section 43(1) of the
Development Charges Act, 1997.
CARRIED
7. DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
INDEXING - JULY 1, 2012 (7.11)
Report
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
1) That the report titled
“Development Charges Indexing – July 1, 2012” be received; and,
2) That Council approve an
increase in development charges of 1.10%, effective July 1, 2012; and further,
3) That staff be directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this report
CARRIED
8. MARKHAM SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT
AND CULTURAL CENTRE PROPOSED TERMS
OF REFERENCES (9.0)
Report Attachment A
The Committee
discussed the importance of a dynamic community engagement plan to ensure that
the municipality obtains positive community support. It was suggested that Community Access and
Financial Framework be included in the mandate, and that
"sustainability" be added with the Building Design.
There was considerable
discussion with respect to the proposed committee composition. It was suggested that the proposed
composition of five Members of Council remain and that the Mayor look after the
appointments.
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the report entitled
“Markham Sports, Entertainment and Cultural
Sub-Committee (MSEC) – Terms of Reference” be received; and,
2) That the “Markham Sports, Entertainment and Cultural Sub-Committee
(MSEC) – Terms of Reference” be approved; and,
3) That Mayor Frank Scarpitti appoint five (5) Members of Council to the Markham Sports, Entertainment and Cultural Sub-Committee
(MSEC); and further,
4) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary
to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
9. BOULEVARD MAINTENANCE TASK
FORCE UPDATE REPORT (2.0)
Report Bylaw
Mr. Bob Walter,
Manager Parks Operations delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing an
update regarding the Boulevard Maintenance Task Force.
The Committee
discussed the following:
·
Double
boulevard areas
·
Common
practice by municipalities to go and cut the grass when homeowners do not
comply and add the cost to their property tax bill
·
The
importance of proper education for residents with respect to ways that assist
in controlling the weeds and their responsibility with respect to the
boulevards
·
By-law
officers that work on proactive matters and the current challenges
·
Boulevard
maintenance along Steeles Avenue and that it is the responsibility of the City
of Toronto to maintain both sides of the boulevard
·
Take
additional steps such as ensuring that the maintenance crew pick up illegal
signs from the boulevards
·
Amend the
proposed name of the by-law to "Keeping Markham Beautiful Maintenance
By-law" with a subtitle entitled "Maintenance of Private Property
& Municipal Boulevard"
·
Advise the
schools in York Region the importance of maintaining their properties
The Committee
requested that staff prepare and forward a briefing note summarizing today's
presentation and forward it to Members of Council.
The Committee thanked
staff for all their work in bringing this forward.
Moved by Regional
Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Councillor
Alex Chiu
1) That
the report titled ‘Boulevard Maintenance Task Force Update Report’ dated April
12th, 2012, be received; and
2) That
Council enact the proposed “Keeping
Markham Beautiful (Maintenance) By-law”, as amended and described in this report and in the form set out in
Attachment ‘A’; and
3) That
Council repeal the current ‘Tall Grass and Weeds on Private Lands By-law
(By-law 2005-158), as amended and the Dumping By-law ( By-law 140-91); and
4) That
the municipal service fees for the administration and enforcement of this
By-law shall be in accordance with the Town of Markham Fees By-law and any
revisions thereto; and
5) That
Operations and By-law Enforcement staff report back to Council at year-end on
the effectiveness of the new By-law and options to consider to address property
owner non-compliance; and
6) That
Operations staff report back to Council in the spring of 2013 on the work of
the cross-commission improvement project for boulevard design and construction
standards, including recommendations and action plans; and further,
7) That
Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
CARRIED
10. LICENSING OF CLOTHING
DONATION BINS (2.0)
Report Bylaw
The Committee thanked Andy
Taylor, Kimberley Kitteringham, Bill Wiles,Carlie Turpin and Claudia Marsales
for all their work in bringing the Licensing of Clothing Donation Bins forward.
There was discussion
regarding the placement of the boxes.
Staff advised that the by-law would require that the box be placed on
private property and that the by-law has a provision that the donation box
needs to be placed to the satisfaction of the Town.
The Committee inquired
whether there can be a requirement to identify their charitable status. Staff will undertake to do that when the
by-law is enacted.
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Valerie Burke
1) That
the report titled “Licensing of Clothing Donation Bins” be received for
information purposes; and,
2) That
the Corporation of the Town of Markham adopt the proposed licensing
requirements for clothing drop boxes contained in Attachment “A” of this report
and, these requirements be included in the forthcoming Consolidated Stationary
Business Licensing By-law; and,
3) That
only registered charities be eligible to obtain a licence for clothing donation
bins in Markham; and,
4) That
clothing donation bin locations in Markham be restricted to private property on
commercially zoned land, with the written consent of the landowner; and
further,
5) That
Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
CARRIED
11. ICE CREAM TRUCK LICENSING
BY-LAW (2.22)
Report Bylaw
Moved by Councillor Alex
Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the report entitled
“Ice Cream Truck Licensing By-law” be received; and
2) That Attachment ‘A’ –
“Proposed Ice Cream Truck Licensing By-law” be enacted to amend the Schedule 5
Consolidated Mobile Licensing By-law to provide for the licensing and
regulation of owners, operators, drivers and attendants of Ice Cream Trucks
operating in Markham; and further,
3) That Staff be authorized
and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
12. REQUEST FOR REINSTATEMENT OF
PHOTO RADAR (9.0)
Letter
Bill Wiles provided an
update regarding the two current processes (red light cameras and photo
radar). He indicated that York Region
Police is in support of enacting photo radar.
There was discussion
regarding the effectiveness of non-operating cameras.
The Committee
discussed red light cameras and staff pointed out that they are not a positive
cost revenue.
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Alan Ho
1) That
the Town of Markham support the use of photo radar for the purpose of increased public safety; and,
2) That
the Town of Markham request the Province to amend the legislation to permit municipalities to implement staffed and
unstaffed photo radar.
CARRIED
13. 3RD CANADA-CHINA
CULTURAL DIALOGUE
EXPLORING COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP (11.12)
Report
There was discussion
regarding whether the Town should be funding rather than the Foundations.
Moved Councillor Carolina
Moretti
Seconded Councillor Don
Hamilton
1) That Cathy Molloy, Manager of the
Markham Museum, and Francine Perinet,
Manager of the Varley Art Gallery,
receive approval to travel to Beijing, China
from June 25th to July 2, 2012 to
attend the 3rd Canada-China Cultural Dialogue
and to explore cultural partnerships
related to each of the Museum and Gallery; and,
2) That the travel to China be funded by
the Canadian Fund for International Understanding through Cultural, the Museum
(account # 520-9985200) and the Gallery (account #540-5425801) operations, and
further,
3) That staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS
14. IN- CAMERA MATTERS
General Committee
did not resolve into an in-camera session.
That, in
accordance with Section 239 (2) (b) of the Municipal
Act, General Committee resolve into an in-camera session to discuss the
following confidential matters:
1) Personal matters
about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.
ADJOURNMENT
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 12:27 PM.