General Committee Meeting Minutes

Meeting Number: 12

Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 9:30 A.m. - 1:30 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 Karen Rea
• Councillor Andrew Keyes
• Councillor Amanda Collucci
• Councillor Juanita Nathan
• Councillor Isa Lee

Staff

• Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
• Trinela Cane, Commissioner, Corporate Services
• Morgan Jones, Commissioner, Community Services
• Arvin Prasad, Commissioner, Development Services
• Claudia Storto, City Solicitor and Director of Human Resources
• Joseph Silva, Treasurer
• Michael Toshakovski, Deputy City Solicitor
• Hersh Tencer, Manager, Real Property
• Darryl Lyons, Deputy Director, Planning and Urban Design
• Giulio Cescato, Director of Planning & Urban Design
• Mark Visser, Sr Manager, Strategy Innovation & Investments
• Eddy Wu, Director, Environmental Services
• Hristina Giantsopoulos, Election/Council & Committee Coordinator
• Tharsikaa Irajeswaran, Assistant to Council/Committee
• Rajeeth Arulanantham, Election/Council & Committee Coordinator
• Jason Yang, Technology Support Specialist II
• Anushrut Bharadwaj, Assistant to Council/Committee
• Jemima Lee, Manager, Financial Planning
• Zahra Parhizgari, Engineer, Environmental
• Rob Muir, Manager, Stormwater

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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 9:37 AM with Councillor Keith Irish presiding as Chair.

2.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest.

3.

APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

3.1

MINUTES OF THE JULY 9, 2024 GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)

• Moved by Councillor Andrew Keyes
  Seconded by Councillor Juanita Nathan
  1. That the minutes of the July 9, 2024 General Committee meeting be confirmed.
  Carried

4.

DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

5.

COMMUNICATIONS

5.1

YORK REGION COMMUNICATIONS (13.4)

• Moved by Councillor Reid McAlpine
  Seconded by Councillor Karen Rea
  1. That the following communications dated June 27, 2024 from York Region be received for information purposes:
     1. Housing Solutions 2023 Progress Report
     2. 2023 Paramedic Response Time Performance Plan Results
     3. York Region's 2024 to 2027 Homelessness Service System Plan
     4. 2023 Housing Supply and Affordability Update
     5. Privately Owned Water and Wastewater Communal Systems Status Report
     6. Update on the Province’s Hazardous and Special Products Regulation
     7. 2023 Annual Waste Management Report
     8. Trans Canada Trail Expansion Into York Region
  Carried

6.

PETITIONS

There were no petitions.

7.

CONSENT REPORTS - FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

7.1

MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 17, FEBRUARY 21, FEBRUARY 29, MARCH 20, AND APRIL 17, 2024 UNIONVILLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA BOARD MEETING 16.0)

• Moved by Councillor Ritch Lau
  Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
  1. That the minutes of the January 17, February 21, February 29, March 20, and, April 17, 2024 Unionville Business Improvement Area Committee meeting be received for information purposes. 
  Carried

7.2

MINUTES OF THE MAY 29, 2023 MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MEETING (16.0)

• Moved by Councillor Ritch Lau
  Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
  1. That the minutes of the May 27, 2024 Markham Public Library Board meeting be received for information purposes.
  Carried

7.3

2024 IN-YEAR CAPITAL ADDITIONS REPORT (7.5)

The Committee had the following inquires on the item:

• The purpose of the consultant for the AODA Playground Refurbishment Project.
• Request for additional details for the Corporate Fleet Replacement Project.
• The timing of playground construction and impact it has on residents when construction takes place during Summer.
• The location of trees being planted in the Milne Dam Conservation Park and the concern of trees being planted behind the residences abutting the park.
• The assessment of equipment when nearing its lifecycle.

Staff responded to the inquiries from Committee and acknowledged to provide the additional details that were requested.

• Moved by Deputy Mayor Michael Chan
  Seconded by Regional Councillor Alan Ho
  1. That the report dated September 24, 2024 titled “2024 In-Year Capital Additions” be received; and,
  2. That Council approve 18 in-year capital additions to Budget 2024, which total $9,932,600 as outlined in Appendix 1; and further, 
  3. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  Carried

7.4

APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE MARKHAM MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL (16.24)

• Moved by Councillor Ritch Lau
  Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
  1. That the Report Appointment of Members to the Markham Mayor’s Youth Council for the period of September 2, 2024 to June 30, 2025 be received; and, 
  2. That the following Appointments of Members to the Markham Mayor’s Youth Council be confirmed for the term September 2, 2024 to June 30, 2025; and further,

     • Name	Grade	Ward	School
       Christian Matros	11	1	St. Robert CHS
       Elisabeth Lum	11	1	Markville Secondary School
       Jin Zhou	12	1	Thornhill Secondary School
       Kelly Liu	10	2	University of Toronto Schools
       Celine Yang	11	2	St. Augustine Catholic High School
       Grace Tan	12	2	St. Robert Catholic High School
       Melody Cao	12	2	Bayview Secondary School
       Sarah Gao	12	2	Bayview Secondary School
       Kelly Lee	10	3	St. Robert Catholic High School
       Vicky Dai	10	3	St. Augustine Catholic Highschool
       Kara Cespedes	11	3	Markville Secondary School
       Eloise Nose	10	4	St. Augustine Catholic High School
       Will Gao	11	4	Markville Secondary School
       Ashnika Lavakumaran	10	5	Bill Hogarth Secondary School
       Pranav Sai Thava Ganesh	11	5	Bill Hogarth Secondary School
       Joakim Sebastiampillai	11	5	St. Robert High School
       Ella Yap	11	6	St. Augustine Catholic High School
       Michael Li	11	6	Markville Secondary School
       Ivy Chen	11	6	Markville Secondary School
       Zoey Rodrigues	11	6	Bill Hogarth Secondary School
       Saumya Grover	12	6	Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School
       Hadia Rasool	12	7	Markham District High School
       Rithikha Kalaiunarbavan	12	7	Middlefield CI
       Michelle Jiang	11	8	Unionville High School
       Oscar Cheng	11	8	St. Robert Catholic High School

  3. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

   

  Carried

8.

REGULAR REPORTS - FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

8.1

MINUTES OF THE JULY 29, 2024 MARKHAM SUB-COMMITTEE SWAN LAKE MEETING (16.0)

The Committee requested that future reports incorporate a full description of acronyms and that industry standards are also included when providing Swan Lake test results to gauge the accepted quality standards in relation to the City’s results.

The Committee requested that staff provide an update in relation to a future public meeting for a fulsome discussion on the costs and benefits associated to the actions taken so far by the City.

Staff advised a public meeting was held in March 2024 that focused on water quality improvements and park enhancements. Staff indicated that the current public meeting being requested is more related to economic development in the area and this request should be diverted to Economic Development staff for any follow up.

• Moved by Councillor Andrew Keyes
  Seconded by Councillor Amanda Collucci

  That the following motion passed at the July 29, 2024, Markham Sub-Committee meeting be received for information purposes:

  1. That the minutes of the July 29, 2024 Markham Sub-Committee meeting be received for information purposes; and,
  2. That the report entitled “Swan Lake- 2023 Water Quality Status and Updates” be received; and,
  3. That the deputations from Fred Peters, Friends of Swan Lake Park, Ali Asgary and Satinder Brar, York University, Peter Miller, William Dewberry, and Pamela Nitert, Amica Swan Lake, made to the July 29, 2024 Markham Sub-Committee be received; and,
  4. That the funding request by Friends of Swan Lake Park and the CIFAL proposal, as well as the request for shoreline viewing nodes be referred to Staff to report back in the future; and,
  5. That Staff continue to implement the Long-term Management Plan for Swan Lake approved by Council in December 2021, including advancement of submerged aquatic vegetation, research into chloride treatment, and flow diversion evaluation (previously in Phases 2 and 3 of the Plan); and,
  6. That Staff report back annually on water quality results and evaluation of adapted Core and Complementary measures for consideration in Phase 2 of the Plan through the Markham Sub-Committee with the participation of the Friends of Swan Lake Park; and,
  7. That the next review of the Plan will be in 2025 (after the completion of Phase 1 and other measures as listed under item 2) with consideration for a workshop in 2026; and further,
  8. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  Carried

9.

MOTIONS

There were no motions.

10.

NOTICES OF MOTION

There were no notices of motion.

11.

NEW/OTHER BUSINESS

There was no new or other business.

12.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were no announcements. 

13.

CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS

General Committee convened into confidential session at 10:00 AM.

• Moved by Regional Councillor Joe Li
  Seconded by Councillor Amanda Collucci

  That, in accordance with Section 239 (2) of the Municipal Act, General Committee resolve into a confidential session to discuss the following matters:

  Carried

13.1

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

13.1.1

GENERAL COMMITTEE CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES- JULY 9, 2024 (16.0) [Municipal Act, 2001, Section 239 (2) (a)(c)(k)]

General Committee confirmed the confidential minutes of July 9, 2024.

13.1.2

PROPOSED AQUISTION OF LAND; A PROPOSED OR PENDING ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF LAND BY THE CITY OR LOCAL BOARD (WARD 2) (7.0); 

[Municipal Act, 2001, Section 239 (2)(c)]

The Committee consented to place this item on the September 25, 2024 Confidential Council Meeting Agenda for consideration. 

13.1.3

DEVELOPMENT CHARGE COMPLAINT; LITIGATION OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION, INCLUDING MATTERS BEFORE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS, AFFECTING THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD (WARD 4) (7.11)

[Municipal Act, 2001, Section 239 (2)(e)]

This item was deferred to the next General Committee meeting on October 8, 2024

14.

ADJOURNMENT

• Moved by Councillor Juanita Nathan
  Seconded by Councillor Ritch Lau

  That General Committee adjourn from confidential session at 10:03 AM and not report out on any matter.

  Carried