Electronic General Committee Meeting
Revised Agenda
Revised Items are Italicized.

Meeting Number: 10
-
Live streamed

Please bring this General Committee Agenda to the Council meeting on July 14, 2020.

 


    1. That the minutes of the June 15, 2020 General Committee meeting be confirmed.

Note: Questions regarding Regional correspondence should be directed to Chris Raynor, Regional Clerk.

    1. That the following communications dated May 28, 2020 from York Region be received for information purposes:
      1. Yonge North Subway Extension - Update
      2. Greater Toronto Area West Transportation Corridor Update
      3. 2020 Property Tax Capping Report
      4. 2020 Property Tax Rates
      5. 2020 Property Tax Ratios
      6. 2019 to 2023 Strategic Plan Year 1 2019 Progress Report
    1. That the minutes of the May 13, 2020 and June 10, 2020 Board of Management Unionville Business Improvement Area Committee meeting be received for information purposes.
    1. That the minutes of the March 4, 2020 Markham-Milliken Children’s Festival Organizing Committee meeting be received for information purposes.
    1. That the minutes of the May 25, 2020 Markham Public Library Board meeting be received for information purposes.

Note: Committee has the option to endorse, amend, refer to staff or receive for information the following recommendation from the March 2, 2020 Race Relations Committee meeting:

  1. That the minutes of the March 2, 2020 Race Relations Committee meeting be received for information purposes; and, 
  2. That the Race Relations Committee recommends that Markham City Council take appropriate action to ensure that Coronavirus (COVID-19) does not become an excuse for expression of xenophobia against identifiable racial and cultural groups of the City of Markham.
    1. That the minutes of the June 8, 2020 Race Relations Committee meeting be received for information purposes.

Note: Committee has the option to endorse, amend, refer to staff or receive for information the following recommendation from the June 29, 2020 Race Relations Committee meeting:

  1. That the minutes of the June 29, 2020 Race Relations Committee meeting be received for information purposes; and,
  2. That the Race Relations Committee (RRC) of the City of Markham supports the Statement from Mayor Frank Scarpitti on June 3, 2020 titled "When enough is not enough".

The RRC agrees with the Mayor's assertion that "We can always do more". Accordingly, the RRC strongly recommends the following advice to assist the City combat racism and discrimination:

1. Representation matters. We recommend to the Mayor and Council that City staff, community services, and other hired and appointed roles reflect the diversity of the city. All communities in Markham deserve to see themselves represented in Markham’s institutions and systems. We further recommend that the Mayor and Council advocate for the same in the four publicly-funded school boards that serve residents of Markham.

2. We recommend that the Mayor and Council ensure Markham Bylaw Enforcement officers reflect the diversity in proportion to the population that it represents, and that all Markham Bylaw Enforcement officers receive ongoing training in Anti Racism (including Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Indigenous Racism), bias-free enforcement, conflict de-escalation, cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, understanding of the community served, courtesy, respect, and service.

3. We recommend that the Mayor and Regional Councillors advocate the following before York Region Council and the York Region Police Services Board: that Regional Council and YRPSB ensure York Regional Police officers reflect the diversity in proportion to the population that it represents, and that all York Regional Police officers receive ongoing training in Anti Racism (including Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Indigenous Racism), bias-free policing, conflict de-escalation, cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, understanding of the community served, courtesy, respect, and service. The York Regional Police service should be comprised of officers who reflect the diversity of the communities that they serve across York Region, and should undertake proactive measures to build community trust in police.

4. We recommend that the Mayor and Regional Councillors advocate before York Region Council that York Region Public Health collect disaggregated, race-based public health data (including on COVID-19 cases), and report on public health concerns that disproportionally impact racialized groups.

5. We recommend that the City of Markham initiate the development, through professional research, a Made-for-Markham Municipal Action Plan Against Anti-Black Racism that identifies specific policy solutions within the City's jurisdiction towards eliminating Anti-Black Racism, including that of a systemic nature. Using Markham's Diversity Action Plan "Everyone Welcome" and the Inclusion Charter as foundation, through consultation in safe spaces with community groups and community members, this study's scope should include:

• Measures to support Black employment, job training and employment security.
• Measures to support Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned businesses
• Measures to ensure an equitable experience while obtaining housing by members of the Black community, both in rental and in homeownership
• Programs that address recreational needs of Black students and Black senior citizens
• Measures to support food security, especially in cooperation with Black-focused non-profit community organizations
• Measures to support and improve the quality of mental health services for members of the Black community
• Public education programs to eliminate racism, including Anti-Black Racism
• Other actions within City Council's mandate that address and stand against Anti-Black Racism

The Made-for-Markham Municipal Action Plan Against Anti-Black Racism can serve as a model for future initiatives against other forms of racism, as well as a reference document for the update of Markham's Diversity Action Plan.

6. Upon updating, Markham's Diversity Action Plan should include a scheduled update cycle to ensure that it will continue to reflect the growing and relative needs of all communities in Markham.

We love our City and our communities. We declare that creating change is not simply driven by making a few statements, rather, it is through continuous intentional work. The diverse communities in this City need policies to be implemented that reflect the sentiments behind the Mayor's statements on diversity and inclusion. Accordingly, we believe the above recommendations represent steps that would, as stated by the Mayor, "create a new reality for the Black community, and create an environment that is free of racism and full of respect for one another".

    1. That the minutes of the March 10, 2020 and June 9, 2020 Waste Diversion Committee meeting be received for information purposes.

M. Vetere, ext. 2463, V. Siu, ext. 2232 and J. Lee, ext. 2963

    1. That the report dated July 6, 2020 titled “Status of Capital Projects as of April 30, 2020” be received; and,
    2. That the Projects Completed within Scope with Surplus Funds and the Projects Completed within Scope without Surplus Funds as identified on Exhibit B be approved for closure and funds in the amount of $3,469,003 be transferred to the original sources of funding as identified on Exhibit B; and,

    3. That the Projects Closed and Deferred to a Future Year and the Projects Closed and Not Initiated as identified on Exhibit C be approved for closure and funds in the amount of $1,310,027 be transferred to the original sources of funding as identified in Exhibit C; and,
    4. That the surplus funds of $7,230,071 from open capital projects be returned to the original sources of funding as identified on Exhibit D; and,
    5. That the deferral of 28 projects as outlined on Exhibit E be approved; and,

    6. That the Non-Development Charge Capital Contingency Project be topped up from the Life Cycle Replacement and Capital Reserve Fund by $734,748 to the approved amount of $250,000; and,

    7. That the Engineering Capital Contingency Project be topped up from the City-Wide Hard Development Charges Reserve by $46,461 to the approved amount of $100,000; and,
    8. That the Design Capital Contingency Project be topped up from the Development Charges Reserve by $37,344 to the approved amount of $100,000; and,
    9. That the Waterworks Capital Contingency Project be topped up from the Waterworks Stabilization/Capital Reserve by $174,717 to the approved amount of $100,000; and,
    10. That the Non-DC Capital Contingency funded amount of $26,659 for infrastructure design within West Thornhill Phase 3 (Capital project 16211) be returned to the Life Cycle Replacement & Capital Reserve Fund and be replaced with funding from the Stormwater Fee Reserve Fund; and,

    11. That the funding sources for the East Markham Works Yard land (Capital project 19282) in the amount of $12,736,000 be changed from Development Charges Reserves and the Non-DC Growth Reserve to the Land Acquisition Reserve; and,

    12. That the following new capital project, initiated subsequent to the approval of the 2020 capital budget, be received:

      20301 – Emergency Boardwalk Repairs at Unionville and Campbell Court – Budget of $60,000 funded from the Non-DC Capital Contingency; and further,

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

D. Decker, ext. 5975

    1. That the Markham Fire and Emergency Services 2019 Annual Fire Service Report be received; and,
    2. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

E. Wu, ext. 2445

    1. That the report “Water and Wastewater Asset Ownership Agreement” be received; and,

    2. That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute an agreement between the City and The Regional Municipality of York (the “Region”) to govern the ownership of water and wastewater assets as described in this report, provided that the form of such agreement is satisfactory to the Commissioner of Community & Fire Services and the City Solicitor; and,

    3. That the Director of Environmental Services be authorized to accept the conveyance and to convey ownership of minor water and wastewater assets to and from the Region to the satisfaction of the Director of Environmental Services; and further,

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

J. Lustig, ext. 4715

    1. That the presentation entitled COVID-19 – Financial Impact Update be received; and,
    2. That the City Treasurer report back to Council on August 25; and further,
    3. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

C. Marsales, ext. 3560

    1. That the presentation entitled “The Best of the Best 2” Markham’s Diversion Strategy 2020-2023 be received; and,
    2. That Council endorse “The Best of the Best 2” Markham’s Diversion Strategy 2020-2023 and the initiatives and programs outlined in the strategy that form the basis of Markham’s multi-year plan to attain 85% municipal diversion; and,
    3. That staff report back to Council concerning any anticipated financial impacts for initiatives and program improvements and updates on strategy implementation; and,
    4. That a copy of the presentation be forwarded to York Region and the Local municipalities for their information; and further,
    5. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

J. Tsien, ext. 2896

    1. That the report entitled “City of Markham Older Adult Strategy (OAS) Update” be received; and,
    2. That staff report annually on the status of the OAS actions; and further,
    3. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

13.

Note: Notice of this motion was provided at the June 15, 2020 General Committee meeting. 

  • Moved by: Ward 4 Councillor Karen Rea
    Seconded by: Ward 5 Councillor Andrew Keyes

    Whereas, Region of York looks after boulevard cutting on Regional roads; and,

    Whereas, Region of York provides winter snow removal on Regional roads; and,

    Whereas, Region of York is called to remove debris or animals on Regional roads; and,

    Whereas, many residents of Markham are not aware of the two tier system and jurisdiction of what level of government to contact for issues on Regional roads; and,

    Whereas the City of Markham and the Region of York have different service levels and cutting schedules for boulevard maintenance; and,

    Whereas the City of Markham could deliver these services and provide a consistent approach on all roads within the City; and,

    Whereas residents would have one point of contact for road issues; and,

    Therefore, be it resolved;

    1. That the City of Markham negotiate an agreement with York Region for the City of Markham to provide boulevard cutting, winter snow removal and removal of debris and/or animals on all Regional roads within the City of Markham. That all costs associated for these services to be reimbursed by the Region of York to the City of Markham.

As per Section 2 of the Council Procedural By-Law, "New/Other Business would generally apply to an item that is to be added to the Agenda due to an urgent statutory time requirement, or an emergency, or time sensitivity".

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

17.1
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES
 

17.1.1
GENERAL COMMITTEE CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES - JUNE 1, 2020 (16.0) [Section 239 (2) (a) (b) (c) (e) (f)]
 

17.2
ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES
 

17.2.1
A POSITION, PLAN, PROCEDURE, CRITERIA OR INSTRUCTION TO BE APPLIED TO ANY NEGOTIATIONS CARRIED ON OR TO BE CARRIED ON BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD (5.1) [Section 239 (2) (k)]
 

17.3
LAND, BUILDING & PARKS CONSTRUCTION ISSUES
 

17.3.1
A PROPOSED OR PENDING ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF LAND BY THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD (WARD 4) (8.6) [Section 239 (2) (c)]
 

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