Development Services Committee Meeting Minutes

Meeting Number: 10

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 9:00 A.m. - 3:00 P.m.

Live streamed

Roll Call

• Mayor Frank Scarpitti
• Deputy Mayor Michael Chan
• Regional Councillor Jim Jones
• Regional Councillor Joe Li
• Regional Councillor Alan Ho
• Councillor Keith Irish
• Councillor Ritch Lau
• Councillor Reid McAlpine
• Councillor Andrew Keyes
• Councillor Amanda Collucci
• Councillor Juanita Nathan
• Councillor Isa Lee

Regrets

• Councillor Karen Rea

Staff

• Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
• Arvin Prasad, Commissioner, Development Services
• Trinela Cane, Commissioner, Corporate Services
• Eddy Wu, Acting Commissioner, Community Services
• Claudia Storto, City Solicitor and Director of Human Resources
• Bryan Frois, Manager of Executive Operations & Strategic Initiatives
• Giulio Cescato, Director of Panning & Urban Design
• Frank Clarizio, Director, Engineering
• Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage
• Darryl Lyons, Deputy Director, Planning & Urban Design
• John Yeh, Manager, Strategy & Innovation
• Mark Visser, Senior Manager, Financial Strategy & Investments
• Martha Pettit, Deputy City Clerk
• Erica Alligood, Election & Committee Coordinator
• Evan Manning, Heritage Planner
• Rob Tadmore, Coordinator, Geometrics/GIS Advocate
• Kishor Soneji, Manager, Financial Reporting
• Shane Manson, Senior Manager, Revenue & Property Taxation
• Lisa Riegel, Assistant City Solicitor
• Chris Rickett, Director, Economic Development, Culture and Entrepreneurship
• Rajeeth Arulanantham, Assistant to Council / Committee

​Alternate formats for this document are available upon request

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

The Development Services Committee convened at 9:03 AM with Regional Councillor Jim Jones in the Chair.

Councillor Nathan arrived to the meeting at 9:31 AM.

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.

2.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest. 

3.

APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

3.1

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES - APRIL 4, 2023 (10.0)

• Moved by Councillor Isa Lee
  Seconded by Councillor Amanda Collucci
  1. That the minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting held on April 4, 2023 be confirmed.
  Carried

4.

PRESENTATIONS

4.1

PRESENTATION OF SERVICE AWARDS (12.2.6)

The Development Services Committee recognized the following members of staff for their years of service:

Community Services Commission

Kristin Gordon-James, Contract Coordinator, Operations, 25 years
Kelvin Hsieh, Supervisor, Community Program, Recreation Services, 5 years
Darek Lewon, Labourer - Waterworks, Environmental Services, 5 years
Zoyeb Vahora, Supervisor, Contract Administration, Operations, 5 years

Corporate Services Commission

Matthew Vetere, Manager, Tax & Assessment Policy, Financial Services, 15 years
Richard Poon, Network Operations Specialist, Information Technology Services, 15 years
Julianna Tso, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner, Commissioner's Office, 10 years
Elton Chong, Client Advisor ITS, Information Technology Services, 5 years
Jennifer Wong, Manager, Sustainability, Sustainability & Asset Management, 5 years  

Development Services Commission

Naval Grotra, Building Inspector II, Building Standards, 25 years
Chi So, Mechanical Engineer, Building Standards, 5 years
Ivy Poon, Senior Environmental Engineer, Engineering, 5 years

4.2

2022 DRAFT CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (7.0)

Mark Visser, Acting Treasurer, advised that Staff would provide a presentation detailing the City's 2022 Draft Consolidated Financial Statements. Mr. Visser introduced Maria Khoushnood as a partner at KPMG with over 15 years of experience administering audits. Mr. Visser introduced Kishor Soneji, Manager, Financial Reporting, to deliver a presentation.

Kishor Soneji, Manager, Financial Reporting, delivered a presentation on the Draft Consolidated Financial Statements for 2022. Mr. Soneji introduced Maria Khoushnood, Lead Audit Engagement Partner, KPMG, to deliver a supplemental presentation. 

Maria Khoushnood, Lead Audit Engagement Partner, KPMG, delivered a presentation detailing KPMG's audit findings. 

The Committee inquired if the City would be audited by the Province. Staff confirmed that some municipalities will be audited by the Province, but that they do not expect the City of Markham to be included in that process. The Committee requested that information be circulated to Councillors related to the funding sources for the Life-Cycle reserve. 

• Moved by Councillor Andrew Keyes
  Seconded by Councillor Juanita Nathan
  1. That the presentation titled “2022 Consolidated Financial Statements” be received; and,
  2. That the report titled “2022 Consolidated Financial Statements” be received; and,
  3. That Council approve the draft Consolidated Financial Statements of The Corporation of the City of Markham (the City), including Community Boards, Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), Destination Markham Corporation and Investment in Markham Enterprises Corporation (MEC), for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022; and,
  4. That Council authorize Staff to publish the final audited Statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 upon receiving the Independent Auditors’ Report; and,
  5. That the KPMG LLP Audit Findings Report for the year ended December 31, 2022 be received; and further,
  6. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  Carried

5.

DEPUTATIONS

5.1

DEPUTATION - RECOMMENDATION REPORT - NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DEMOLISH - SINGLE DETACHED DWELLING AND DETACHED GARAGE, 33 WASHINGTON STREET, MARKHAM VILLAGE HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT, WARD 4 (16.11)

Doug Denby made a deputation, see Item # 8.2 for details. 

6.

COMMUNICATIONS

There were no communications. 

7.

PETITIONS

There were no petitions. 

8.

CONSENT REPORTS - DEVELOPMENT AND POLICY MATTERS

8.1

RECOMMENDATION REPORT - REQUEST TO APPROVE PROPOSED STREET NAMES FOR 2 SITE PLAN APPLICATIONS, 7768 MCCOWAN ROAD, 9999 MARKHAM ROAD (10.14)

• Moved by Regional Councillor Alan Ho
  Seconded by Councillor Ritch Lau
  1. That Council approve the proposed street names “Tina Gate” for a site plan located at 7768 McCowan Road, and “Evelyn Rose Lane”, “LeBANC Lane” and “Azza Lane” for a site plan located at 9999 Markham Road; and, 
  2. That Staff be directed to add the street names listed above to the City’s Street and Park Name Reserve List.
  Carried

8.2

RECOMMENDATION REPORT - NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DEMOLISH – SINGLE DETACHED DWELLING AND DETACHED GARAGE, 33 WASHINGTON STREET, MARKHAM VILLAGE HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT, WARD 4 (16.11)

Arvin Prasad, Commissioner, Development Services, introduced Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning, to provide a brief overview of this item. Mr. Hutcheson provided a brief introduction, advising that this item is related to a demolition proposal for an existing single-detached dwelling and detached garage, noting that the property is not considered a heritage asset. Mr. Hutcheson advised that the Heritage Markham Committee does not object to the demolition proposal. 

Doug Denby, Deputant, expressed his concerns that there is a lack of historical information related to this property and advised that he believes that this property should be considered a heritage asset due to the age of the building.

The Committee requested that Heritage Section Staff circulate the dimensions of the lot at 33 Washington Street for the Committee's information. 

• Moved by Councillor Andrew Keyes
  Seconded by Councillor Juanita Nathan
  1. That Council support the proposed demolition of the existing single-detached dwelling and detached garage at 33 Washington Street, as per Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act; and,
  2. That the deputation from Doug Denby be received; and, 
  3. That the recommendation from the Heritage Markham Committee on December 14, 2022, in support of redevelopment of 33 Washington Street (in accordance with Appendix ‘C’ of this report), be received as information; and further,
  4. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  Carried

8.3

MARKHAM FOUNDATION FOR PERFORMING ARTS - INCORPORATION UPDATE (6.2)

• Moved by Regional Councillor Alan Ho
  Seconded by Councillor Ritch Lau
  1. That Council approve the following amendments to the Letters Patent of the Markham Foundation for the Performing Arts (the “Corporation”) in order to meet Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requirements to register the Corporation as a charity (and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor):
     1. Amend the purposes of the Corporation to provide as follows:
        1. to support the development and sustainability of a vibrant performing arts community in the City of Markham, including the Flato Markham Theatre (or successor) and its facility and programs, in order to advance the public's appreciation of the arts by providing the residents of the City of Markham with access to arts in a variety of forms and forums; and, 
        2. to receive and maintain a fund or funds and to apply all or part of the principal and income therefrom, from time to time, to charitable organizations that are also registered charities under the Income Tax Act (Canada); and,
        3. to do all such things as are ancillary and incidental to the attainment of the above charitable purposes; and, 
     2. Provide that the Corporation shall have a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 9 Directors; and, 
  2. That the City Solicitor be authorized to approve such further amendments to the Letters Patent necessary to comply with legal and/or administrative requirements to register the Corporation as a charity; and further, 
  3. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution. 
  Carried

8.4

HERITAGE MARKHAM COMMITTEE MINUTES – APRIL 12, 2023 (16.11)

• Moved by Regional Councillor Alan Ho
  Seconded by Councillor Ritch Lau
  1. That the minutes of the Heritage Markham Committee meeting held April 12, 2023, be received for information purposes. 
  Carried

9.

REGULAR REPORTS - DEVELOPMENT AND POLICY MATTERS

9.1

2023 INTERIM DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION AND AGREEMENT FEE OPTION (7.0)

Arvin Prasad, Commissioner, Development Services, introduced this item advising that the City has been in receipt of multiple appeals to development fees as the City's are the highest in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area. Mr. Prasad advised that as a result, Staff have identified an interim fee option prior to the enactment of the new Development Charges By-law, which is currently under review. Mr. Prasad confirmed that once the new By-law has been adopted, Staff will reconcile any differences or discrepancies between fees calculated and paid during the interim fee option versus the new Development Fee By-law in 2024.

• Moved by Councillor Juanita Nathan
  Seconded by Councillor Andrew Keyes
  1. That the Report titled “2023 Interim Development Application and Agreement Payment Fee Option” dated April 18, 2023 be received; and, 
  2. That for the period between May 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, for site plan and subdivision applications, Planning, Urban Design and Engineering submissions, and when agreements are executed:
     1. The Applicant shall make a partial fee payment in the amount of 50% of the fees in By-law 211-83 “Tariff of Fees for the Processing of Planning Applications” (Development Fee By-law); and,
     2. Where site plan or subdivision agreements are executed between May 1 and December 31, 2023, the Applicant shall pay 50% of any outstanding fees owing according to the by-law in effect, and the balance shall be secured by letter of credit which shall be drawn on or released once the fee has been recalculated in accordance with the 2024 Development Fee By-law; and,
     3. Where site plan or subdivision agreements executed between May 1 and December 31, 2023, the amounts payable will be recalculated in accordance with 2024 Development Fee By-law, provided that in no case shall an Applicant be required to pay more than the fees payable in accordance with the fee by-law in effect as of the date of this report and any overpayment shall be refunded to the Applicant; and further, 
  3. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  Carried

10.

MOTIONS

There were no motions. 

11.

NOTICES OF MOTION

There were no notices of motion. 

12.

NEW/OTHER BUSINESS

There was no new business. 

13.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were no announcements.

14.

ADJOURNMENT

• Moved by Councillor Juanita Nathan
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Michael Chan

  That the Development Services Committee adjourn at 10:11AM.

  Carried