GENERAL COMMITTEE
September 26, 2011
Meeting No. 21
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
Catherine
Conrad, Town Solicitor
Jim
Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Joel Lustig,
Treasurer
Colin Service, Manager, Planning & Policy Development
John
Ryerson, Director Culture
Mary
Creighton, Director Recreation
Dennis Flaherty, Director Communication
& Community
Relation
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:05 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 SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That
the Minutes of the September 19, 2011 General Committee meeting be confirmed.
CARRIED
2. MINUTES OF THE JULY 20,
2011
ANIMAL CARE COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the
July 20, 2011 Animal Care Committee meeting be received for information
purposes.
CARRIED
3. MINUTES OF THE MAY 18 AND
JUNE 15, 2011
ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE (16.0)
1) That the Minutes of the May 18 and June 15, 2011
Accessibility Committee be received for information purposes.
May
18 June
15
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the May 18 and June
15, 2011 Building A Creative Markham Advisory Committee meeting be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
4. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 27,
2011
PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD (16.0)
June
27
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the June 27 2011
Public Library Board meeting be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
5. MINUTES OF THE MAY 9 AND
JUNE 6, 2011
RACE RELATIONS COMMITTEE
(16.0)
May
9 June
6
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the
May 9 and June 6, 2011 Race Relations Committee meeting be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
6. MINUTES OF THE MAY 10 AND
JUNE 14, 2011
SENIORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(16.0)
May
10 June
14
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes
of the May 10 and June 6, 2011 Seniors Advisory Committee meeting be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
7. MINUTES OF THE MAY 9, 2011
VARLEY MCKAY ART FOUNDATION OF
MARKHAM (16.0)
May
9
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the May 9, 2011
Varley McKay Art Foundation of Markham meeting be received for information
purposes.
CARRIED
8. UPDATE ON THE COMMUNICATIONS
STRATEGY FOR THE 2012 BUDGET PUBLIC
CONSULTATION PROCESS (7.4)
Mr. Joel Lustig, Treasurer provided a
verbal update with respect to the communication strategy for the 2012 Budget
public consultation process. He advised
that it will include: weekly advertisement in the local paper; there has been a
corporate Facebook page set up; a Facebook icon on the portal; the budget
communication process is a lead news item on the portal; advertisement of the
meetings will be displayed on all electronic information boards (EIB) and
Corporate Communications is finalizing an e-invite that Members of Council can
send to their constituents.
The Committee suggested that staff review
the dates of the budget public consultation meetings with the budget Chair,
Regional Councillor Gord Landon and confirm his availability.
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
That the verbal update from Joel Lustig,
Treasurer, be received.
CARRIED
9. INTERNATIONAL INDIAN FILM ACADEMY
BUZZ EVENTS UPDATE 2011 (6.5)
Presentation
Mr. John Ryerson,
Director Culture delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing an update
regarding the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Buzz Events.
The Committee thanked
staff, all the local sponsors and the Steering Committee members for all their
contributions with respect to the IIFA Buzz Events.
Moved by Mayor Frank
Scarpitti
Seconded by Councillor
Carolina Moretti
1) That
the presentation by Mr. John Ryerson, Director, Culture, entitled
“International Indian Film Academy Buzz Events Update 2011” be received; and,
2) That
50% of the
funds remaining be allocated to the South Asian Mela annual event over a period of three years. Staff
will report back on the use of the balance of funds;
and further,
3) That staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
10. RECREATION, CULTURE &
LIBRARY
PRICING & SUBSIDY STRATEGY
DEVELOPMENT APPROACH (6.0)
Presentation
Staff delivered a
PowerPoint presentation with respect to the development approach for the Recreation,
Culture and Library pricing and subsidy strategy.
The Committee
discussed the following:
·
The need
for a Steering Committee
·
Consider
the holistic and philosophical role for all recreation services provided by the
Town
·
Stronger
marketing plan for all programs especially the fitness programs
·
Ensure
front line staff, community representatives and Members of Council are included
in discussions during the development of the pricing strategy and subsidy
strategy
·
Ensure
there are programs for seniors and people with disabilities
·
Obtain representation
from the School Boards during the public consultation phase
·
Speak with
the various hockey associations to find out what they spend to rent ice from
private facilities
·
Profit
based programs versus subsidized programs
·
Offer
programs such as swimming lessons for mothers and toddlers free of charge
·
Look at
other cultural activities that can be offered at the various centres
·
Try to
obtain the top 5 reasons why people are not renewing their fitness memberships
·
Ensure
facilities are properly utilized
·
Set up individual
brain sessions with each Member of Council who is interested to discuss the
pricing strategy
Moved by Mayor Frank
Scarpitti
Seconded by Councillor
Carolina Moretti
1) That
the presentation by Mary Creighton, Director, Recreation Services and Colin Service, Manager, Planning & Policy
Development, entitled
“Recreation, Culture & Library Pricing & Subsidy Strategy Development
Approach” be received; and,
2) That
the fitness centre membership component of the Recreation, Culture & Library Pricing and Subsidy Strategy be
reviewed immediately and staff report back
to General Committee within two months on same; and,
3) That
a Recreation, Culture & Library Pricing & Subsidy Steering Committee be
established comprised of the following:
Regional Councillor Gord Landon, Regional Councillor
Jim Jones, Councillor Howard Shore, Councillor Logan Kanapathi and Councillor Alex Chiu; and further,
4) That
staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
11. SENIOR CENTRES FACILITY OPERATING
AGREEMENT (6.0)
Report
Staff summarized the
details outlined in the report.
The Committee
suggested that the Town's finance department review the Older Adults in Action
(O.A.I.A) year end financials.
Moved by Regional
Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Mayor
Frank Scarpitti
1) That the report entitled "Senior
Centres Facility Operations Agreement" be received; and,
2) That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized
to execute a Facility Operating Agreement between
the Older Adults in Action (O.A.I.A) at 22 Water Street and the Town of Markham for the period January 1, 2010 to
December 31, 2015; and,
3) That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized
to execute a Facility Operating Agreement between
the Thornhill Seniors Club at 7755 Bayview Avenue and the Town of Markham for the period January 1, 2010 to
December 31, 2015; and further,
4) That staff be authorized and directed
to do all thins necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
12. IN-CAMERA
MATTERS
Moved by Councillor Howard Shore
Seconded by Councillor Don Hamilton
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 (11:47 AM):
1) Personal matters about an identifiable
individual, including municipal or local board employees. (RESTRICTED AGENDA)
CARRIED
Moved
by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
Seconded
by Councillor Carolina Moretti
That the Committee rise from the in-camera session (12:38 PM).
CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS
13. SOUND SYSTEM IN THE COUNCIL
CHAMBER
Deputy
Mayor Jack Heath would like to see a solution regarding the microphone problems
in the Council Chamber. It was noted
that staff are looking into the sound issues related to the microphones in the
Chamber.
Moved by
Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
Seconded
by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
That the
Chief Administrative Officer report back to General Committee with solutions
for the issues related to the microphone system in the Council Chamber.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 12:40 PM.