General Committee Meeting Minutes

Meeting Number: 23

Tuesday, November 07, 2023 at 9:30 A.m. - 1:00 P.m.

Live streamed

Roll Call

• Regional Councillor Jim Jones
• Councillor Keith Irish
• Councillor Ritch Lau
• Councillor Reid McAlpine
• Councillor Karen Rea
• Councillor Andrew Keyes
• Councillor Amanda Collucci
• Councillor Juanita Nathan
• Councillor Isa Lee

Regrets

• Mayor Frank Scarpitti
• Deputy Mayor Michael Chan
• Regional Councillor Joe Li
• Regional Councillor Alan Ho

Staff

• Trinela Cane, Commissioner, Corporate Services
• Arvin Prasad, Commissioner, Development Services
• Claudia Storto, City Solicitor and Director of Human Resources
• Bryan Frois, Chief of Staff
• Martha Pettit, Deputy City Clerk
• Sumon Acharjee, Chief Information Officer
• Stephanie DiPerna, Director, Building Standards
• Frank Clarizio, Director, Engineering
• Graham Seaman, Director, Sustainability & Asset Management
• Alex Moore, Manager of Purchasing & Accounts Payable
• Chris Rickett, Director, Economic Development, Culture and Entrepreneurship
• Mark Visser, Sr Manager Strategy Innovation ＆ Investments
• Eddy Wu, Acting Director, Environmental Services
• Loy Cheah, Acting Director, Engineering
• Hristina Giantsopoulos, Election/Council & Committee Coordinator
• John Wong, Technology Support Specialist II
• Tharsikaa Irajeswaran, Assistant to Council/Committee
• Morgan Jones, Commissioner, Community Services
• Joseph Silva, Treasurer

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We begin today by acknowledging the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples and their commitment to stewardship of the land. We acknowledge the communities in circle. The North, West, South and Eastern directions, and Haudenosaunee, Huron- Wendat, Anishnabeg, Seneca, Chippewa, and the Mississaugas of the Credit peoples. We share the responsibility with the caretakers of this land to ensure the dish is never empty and to restore relationships that are based on peace, friendship, and trust. We are committed to reconciliation, partnership and enhanced understanding.

General Committee convened at 9:36 AM with Councillor Keith Irish presiding as Chair.  

2.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

There were none disclosed.

3.

APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

3.1

MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 10 AND OCTOBER 24, 2023 GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING (16.0)

• Moved by Councillor Andrew Keyes
  Seconded by Councillor Juanita Nathan
  1. That the minutes of the October 10 and October 24, 2023 General Committee meeting be confirmed.
  Carried

4.

DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

5.

COMMUNICATIONS

There were no communications. 

6.

PETITIONS

There were no petitions. 

7.

CONSENT REPORTS - FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

7.1

MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MEETING (16.0)

• 1. That the minutes of the September 26, 2023 Markham Public Library Board meeting be received for information purposes. 

7.2

2023 THIRD QUARTER INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE REVIEW (7.0)

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
  Seconded by Councillor Ritch Lau
  1. That the report dated November 7, 2023 entitled “2023 Third Quarter Investment Performance Review” be received.
  Carried

7.3

QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - MANAGEMENT REVIEW (5.3)

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
  Seconded by Councillor Ritch Lau
  1. That the report titled “Quality Management System - Management Review” be received; and,
  2. That Council, as the Owner of the City’s drinking water system, acknowledge and support the outcome and action items identified from the Management Review; and,
  3. That Council, as Owner of the City’s drinking water system, acknowledges and endorses the revisions made to the City’s Quality Management System Operational Plan; and further,
  4. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  Carried

7.4

STAFF AWARDED CONTRACTS FOR THE MONTHS OF JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST 2023 (7.12)

The Committee made inquiries in relation to the following staff awarded contracts:

• #3, Contract # 070-R-23, Consulting Engineering Services for the Detailed Design of the Highway 7 Underpass & Bullock Extension;
• #7, Contract # 194-Q-23, Event Management Services Markham Milliken Children’s Festival; 
• #9, Contract # 167-Q-23, Consulting Services, Russell Carter Tefft Pedestrian Bridge;
• #40, Contract # 108-R-23,Consulting Services - Low-Carbon Municipal Fleet Strategy;
• #41, Contract # 159-T-23, Supply and Installation of Bird Safe Film at Armadale Community Centre and Markham Village; and,
• #44, Contract # 148-R-23, Net-Zero Emissions Plan and Corporate Energy Management Plan Update.

Staff responded to the inquiries and noted that the consultant industry is quite full, and that to ensure that the City obtains competitive bids, staff are paying attention to construction tenders and assessing the timing of request for proposals.  

• Moved by Councillor Isa Lee
  Seconded by Councillor Amanda Collucci
  1. That the report entitled “Staff Awarded Contracts for the Months of June, July & August 2023” be received; and further, 
  2. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  Carried

8.

MOTIONS

There were no motions.

9.

NOTICES OF MOTION

There were no notices of motion.

10.

NEW/OTHER BUSINESS

Councillor Amanda Collucci addressed the Committee to thank Eddy Wu, Director, Environmental Services for the informative tour of the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant.  

11.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were no announcements. 

12.

ADJOURNMENT

• Moved by Councillor Andrew Keyes
  Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones

  That General Committee adjourn at 9:56 AM. 

  Carried