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Minutes

General Committee

September 28, 2015

Meeting Number 24

 

Finance & Administrative Issues                  Community Services Issues

Chair:              Deputy Mayor Jack Heath                            Chair:                      Councillor Alan Ho

Vice Chair:      Councillor Colin Campbell                             Vice Chair:              Councillor Alex Chiu

 

Environment & Sustainability Issues                        Building, Parks, & Construction Issues

Chair:              Councillor Valerie Burke                 Chair:                     Councillor Colin Campbell

Vice Chair:      Councillor Karen Rea                                      Vice Chair:              Regional Councillor Nirmala Armstrong

 

                                                                                                                       

                Alternate formats are available upon request.

 

 

Attendance

 

Mayor Frank Scarpitti

Deputy Mayor Jack Heath

Regional Councillor Jim Jones

Regional Councillor Joe Li

Regional Councillor Nirmala Armstrong

Councillor Valerie Burke

Councillor Alan Ho

Councillor Don Hamilton

Councillor Karen Rea

Councillor Colin Campbell

Councillor Amanda Collucci

Councillor Logan Kanapathi

Councillor Alex Chiu

 

 

Brenda Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services

Joel Lustig, Treasurer

Morgan Jones, Manager, Roads Operations

Alida Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator

 

 

 

 

The General Committee meeting convened at the hour of 3:05 PM with Deputy Mayor Jack Heath in the Chair.

 

Disclosure of Interest

 

None disclosed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.         WINTER MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP (5.10)

            Presentation

 

Brenda Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services addressed the Committee and provided some opening remarks relative to the winter maintenance. She advised that binders with information regarding winter maintenance were delivered to each Member of Council.

 

Morgan Jones, Manager, Roads Operations delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding winter maintenance.

 

The Committee discussed the following relative to winter maintenance:

·        Difference between arterial, primary, secondary and local roads

·        Legislated minimum standards that must be met for clearing of snow on roads and sidewalks

·        When is salt/sand applied to sidewalks?

·        Windrow removal program - is it necessary to have constituents apply each year?

·        Application process for the windrow removal program – can it be simplified?

·        Should the City consider replacing the windrow removal program with a rebate program for those who qualify?

·        Managing contractors with mobile app – Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL)

·        Consider integrating the "roads e-map" and the interactive mobile app to outline which streets are arterial, primary, secondary, local, etc.

·        Budget increase as a result of the December 2013 Ice Storm

·        Snow events versus actual budget amounts (over budget amounts are due to frequency & storms volume)

·        Damage caused on right-of-ways from snow plows - who pays for the repair?

·        Importance of public education on the use of salt and at what temperature it is effective

·        Include damage to Don Watershed in future presentations

·        Streets that do not have sidewalks - should those streets be cleared sooner to ensure no safety hazard for pedestrians

·        Consider having more in-house versus contracting winter services

·        Snow storage at intersections, hills, school zones - ensure it is cleared to avoid potential safety problems

·        When conducting your survey in Q4 ensure it is a more fulsome survey

·        Canada Post Super mail boxes - not the responsibility of the City to clear the pathway to the mail boxes

 

Mr. David McBeth, Markham resident addressed the Committee regarding winter maintenance and requested that the clear the pathway in Sablewood Park during the winter months.  He is also suggested that all pathways be plowed.

 

Staff advised that when the winter maintenance tool is up and ready staff will provide a demonstration.

 

Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton

Seconded by Councillor Valerie Burke

 

1)         That the presentation by Mr. Morgan Jones, Manager, Roads Operations entitled “Winter Maintenance Workshop”, be received; and,

 

2)         That staff be directed to report back on placing the City's windrow removal program with          a rebate program; and further,

 

3)         That staff be directed to report back on potential service level changes relative to snow clearing on local roads, and pathways in parks and other locations.

Carried

 

 

Communications

Email

 

 

Moved by Regional Councillor Jim Jones

Seconded by Regional Councillor Nirmala Armstrong

 

1)         That the email received from Mr. Ed Legere and Mr. David McBeth providing comments for Pathway Snow Clearing for Sablewood Park be received; and,

 

2)         That the deputation from Mr. David McBeth be received.

Carried

 

 

Adjournment

 

 

Moved by Mayor Frank Scarpitti

Seconded by Councillor Amanda Collucci

 

That the General Committee adjourn at 5:52 PM.

 

Carried

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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