GENERAL COMMITTEE
Finance & Administrative
Issues Community
Services Issues
Chair: Councillor
J. Virgilio Chair:
Councillor
A. Chiu
Chair, Budget Sub-Ctte: Councillor D. Horchik Environment & Sustainability Issues
Chair: IT Sub-Ctte: Reg. Councillor J. Jones Chair: Councillor
E. Shapero
Chair:
Grants Sub-Ctte: Councillor V. Burke
Attendance
|
|
J. Livey, Chief
Administrative Officer
J. Baird,
Commissioner of Development Services
B. Librecz, Commissioner
of Community & Fires Services
A. Taylor,
Commissioner of Corporate Services
C. Conrad, Town
Solicitor
B. Cribbett,
Treasurer
J. Lustig, Director,
Client and Financial Services
C. Service, Manager,
Planning and Policy Development
A. Tang, Acting
Manager, Financial Planning
P. Wealleans,
Director of Taxation
L. Wells, Manager,
Programs
C. Raynor, Committee
Clerk
|
The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:00 a.m. with Councillor A.
Chiu in the Chair.
DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST
None.
1. CREATING
AN ERUV ON THE JEWISH SABBATH (12.2.6)
Correspondence
Rabbi
Avraham Plotkin, Chabad Lubavitch of Markham, spoke to request permission to
construct an Eruv in Thornhill. Rabbi Plotkin advised that any required work
will be undertaken without cost to the Town. Committee requested staff
investigate ongoing maintenance arrangements and the feasibility of a required
fence installation.
Moved by
Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by
Regional Councillor T. Wong
That the deputation by Rabbi Avraham Plotkin,
Chabad Lubavitch of Markham, requesting permission to construct an Eruv in
Thornhill, be received; and further,
That Council approve the creation of the Eruv,
subject to the satisfaction of the Operations Department.
CARRIED
2. APPEALS
OF COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENT
VARIANCE DECISIONS TO
THE ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD
60 ROUGE STREET (10.12)
Mr. E. De Souza, Mr, P. Ross, on behalf of
Vinegar Hill Ratepayers’ Association, and Mr. C. Webb spoke in general
opposition to the proposal to create three (3) lots at 60 Rouge Street.
Comments included that Mayhew Lane is too narrow to accommodate the proposal,
that the off street frontages will disrupt the uniformity of Rouge Street and
that the proposal has varied considerably since creation.
Moved by
Councillor V. Burke
Seconded
by Councillor C. Moretti
That the deputations from Mr. E. De Souza, Mr, P. Ross, on behalf of Vinegar Hill Ratepayers’
Association, and Mr. C. Webb in general opposition to the proposal to create
three (3) lots at 60 Rouge Street, be received.
CARRIED
3. MINUTES OF
THE SEPTEMBER 8, 2008
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Regional Councillor G. Landon
Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi
That the minutes of the September 8, 2008
General Committee be received.
CARRIED
4. APPOINTMENT
AND RESIGNATION
TO ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.24)
Moved by Regional Councillor G. Landon
Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi
That the resignation of Mr. Anderson Coward from the Markham Public Art
Advisory Committee be accepted with regret and a letter of appreciation be
forwarded; and,
That the recommendation of the Board of the
Varley McKay Art Foundation of Markham to appoint Ms. Lana Champion as Varley's
representative to the Markham Public Art Advisory Committee for the term ending
June, 2009 be confirmed.
CARRIED
5. CONTRACTS
AUTHORIZED BY THE
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR THE MONTHS
OF JUNE TO AUGUST 2008 AS PER BY-LAW 4-200 (2.0)
Report 1
Some discussion on
this item relating to a confidential legal matter took place in camera.
Moved by Deputy
Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by
Councillor V. Burke
That the report
entitled “Contracts Authorized by the Authority to Chief Administrative Officer
for the Months of June to August 2008 as per By-law 4-2000” be received.
CARRIED
6. JUNE
2008 YEAR-TO-DATE REVIEW OF OPERATIONS
AND YEAR END PROJECTION (7.4)
Report 1
Committee received brief
clarification on the figures related to rental income.
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by Councillor V. Burke
That the report dated September 22,
2008 entitled “June 2008 Year-To-Date Review of Operations and Year-end
Projection” be received.
CARRIED
7. PROPOSED
2009 BUDGET SUB-COMMITTEE SCHEDULE (7.4)
Report
Moved by
Regional Councillor G. Landon
Seconded by
Councillor L. Kanapathi
That the
report dated September 22, 2008 entitled “Proposed 2009 Budget Sub-Committee
Schedule” be received; and,
That the
Budget Sub-Committee meetings scheduled for the dates and times below be
approved:
Meeting # 1
– Monday, October 27th (1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Canada Room)
Meeting # 2
– Monday, November 3rd (2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Canada Room)
Meeting # 3
– Monday, November 24th (1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Canada Room)
Meeting # 4
– Monday, December 8th (2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Canada Room); and,
That future
Budget Sub- Committee meeting dates will be approved by the Budget
Sub-Committee; and further,
That Staff
be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
CARRIED
Report 1 Presentation
Mr. C.
Service, Manager, Planning and Policy Development, presented a recap of the
Canadian Sport Institute of Ontario (CSIO) Project Development. Committee was
also provided with brief details relating to the Pan Am Games as well as
proposed strategies for the future.
There was
considerable discussion relating to funding strategies and the merits of
linking the CSIO proposal to a bid to stage the Pan Am Games. Committee noted
the importance of securing a letter of endorsement from the Mayor of the City
of Toronto and suggested that private partners may be required for the arenas.
Committee noted that the Town must continue to work hard to promote Markham as
the best location for this facility.
Moved by
Regional Councillor T. Wong
Seconded by
Councillor C. Moretti
That the presentation
by Brenda Librecz , Commissioner of Community & Fire Services, entitled
“CSIO Project Development” be received; and,
That the report
entitled “CSIO Project Development” be received; and,
That the CAO and Commissioner of Community
& Fire Services be authorized to
engage use of external consultants to assist with a business case submission to
Infrastructure Ontario and Infrastructure Canada for funding, and to ensure
that development of the Canadian Sports Institute Ontario compliments a Pan Am
Games Bid but is not reliant upon a Pan Am Games Bid; and,
That the CAO and Commissioner of Community
& Fire Services be authorized to spend up to $50,000 for consultant and any
necessary market studies needed in preparation of business case submission;
and,
That Allan Seabrooke be considered a
preferred supplier in conducting work as a primary consultant in the
development of the submissions to Infrastructure Ontario and Infrastructure
Canada; and,
That the CAO and Commissioner of Community
& Fire Services be authorized to spend up to $15,000 as the Town’s share of
the cost for architectural services for preliminary site layout and facility
fit plans for the CSIO in the context of the Markham Centre Secondary Plan/East
Precinct Plan; and further,
That the CAO and Commissioner of Community
& Fire Services be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to
give effect to this resolution;
CARRIED
9. SENIOR
GRANT CRITERIA – 2008
CELEBRATE MARKHAM GRANTS (7.6)
Report 1 2
Moved by
Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by
Regional Councillor T. Wong
That the
report dated August 19, 2008 entitled “Senior Grant Criteria – 2008 Celebrate
Markham Grants Allocation” be received; and,
That the grant be officially named as the
“Markham Seniors’ Participation Grant;” and,
That the Markham Seniors’ Participation Grant
Criteria and Application outlined in Appendix 1 be approved; and,
That the
Celebrate Markham Grants sub-committee schedules a meeting to approve and
allocate the 2008 Markham Seniors’
Participation Grant funds prior to year end; and further,
That Staff
be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
CARRIED
10. GRANT APPLICATION TO
MUNICIPAL ECO-CHALLENGE FUND (5.7)
Report
Ms. V. Sawler,
Manager, Markham Energy Conservation Office, provided a brief overview of the
Municipal Eco-Challenge Fund. There was some discussion surrounding energy
audits at the Community Centres and whether the results from previous audits
can be re-used. Staff agreed to show previous results alongside updated results
so that progress can be better illustrated.
Moved by Regional
Councillor G. Landon
Seconded by
Deputy Mayor J. Heath
That the Report
titled, “Grant Application to the Municipal
Eco-Challenge Fund”, be received; and,
That Council
support the grant application being made to the Ontario Ministry of Energy and
Infrastructure’s Municipal Eco-Challenge Fund (MECF) by the Markham Energy
Conservation Office for the purpose of obtaining funding support to conduct
energy audits at: Thornhill Community
Centre, Angus Glen Community Centre, Markham Village Arena and Mt. Joy
Community Centre; and further,
That Staff be
authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
CARRIED
11. MUNICIPAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT CORPORATION (MPAC’S)
ASSESSMENT NOTICE (7.1)
Letter
Moved by
Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by
Councillor J. Webster
That the
letter dated August 29, 2008 providing a copy of MPAC’s new “2008 Property
Assessment Notice” be received.
CARRIED
12. CREATING
AN ERUV ON THE JEWISH SABBATH (12.2.6)
Correspondence
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by Councillor V. Burke
That the correspondence from Rabbi Avraham
Plotkin, dated August 11, 2008 regarding the creation of an “Eruv” on the
Jewish Sabbath be received.
CARRIED
13. UPDATE ON THE 2009 TAX REASSESSMENT
(13.5.1)
Presentation
Mr. P. Wealleans, Director of
Taxation, provided details of the 2009 Tax Reassessment. Committee was provided
with information on the new four year assessment cycle, the phase-in process,
changes to the appeal system and some illustrations of how the changes will
affect the various tax bases.
Committee sought clarification on some minor issues and staff noted
that the impact of these changes on the existing tax ratios will need to be
assessed once more detailed information is made available.
Moved by Regional Councillor T. Wong
Seconded by Regional Councillor G. Landon
That the presentation by Mr.
P. Wealleans, Director, Taxation providing an update on the 2009 Tax
Reassessment, be received
CARRIED
13. GREENBUILD
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
BOSTON, MASS. NOVEMBER 19-21,
2008 (5.7)
Committee
was advised that the U.S. Green Building Council’s GreenBuild International
Conference is taking place in Boston, Mass. on November 19-21, 2008.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Moved by
Councillor C. Moretti
Seconded by
Councillor V. Burke
That the Committee
resolve in camera to discuss the following confidential matters (10:55):
1. In-Camera General Committee Minutes – September 8, 2008
2. Confidential Legal Matter regarding the appeals of Committee of
Adjustment decisions to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) with respect to the
property at 60 Rouge Street
CARRIED
Moved by Regional
Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Deputy
Mayor J. Heath
That the Committee
rise (11:28)
CARRIED
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ADJOURNMENT
The
General Committee adjourned at 11:33 a.m.