GENERAL COMMITTEE
April 16, 2012
Meeting No. 9
Finance & Administrative Issues Community Services Issues
Chair: Mayor
Frank Scarpitti Chair: Councillor Alex Chiu
Vice Chair: Councillor Carolina Moretti Vice
Chair: Councillor Howard Shore
Environment
& Sustainability Issues Building,
Parks, & Construction Issues
Chair: Councillor
Valerie Burke Chair: Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Vice Chair: Regional Councillor Joe Li Vice
Chair: Councillor Colin Campbell
Alternate formats are available
upon request.
Attendance
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Andy
Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
Catherine
Conrad, Town Solicitor
Jim
Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Kimberley
Kitteringham, Town Clerk
Joel Lustig,
Treasurer
Mavis Urquhart, Manager of Environmental
Leadership
Nory Takata, Parks
Planner
Stephen Huycke,
Public Services & Records Coordinator
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:07 a.m. with Councillor
Alex Chiu in the Chair. Mayor Frank
Scarpitti assumed the Chair at 9:26 a.m.
DISCLOSURE OF
INTEREST
Deputy Mayor
Jack Heath disclosed an interest with respect to item No. 7 (168-S-11 Renewal
of Life Insurance Contract), as he owns shares in Sun Life Financial, and did
not take part in the consideration or discussion of or vote on the question of
the approval of such matter.
1. MINUTES OF THE APRIL 2, 2012
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded
by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1)
That the Minutes of the April
2, 2012 General Committee be confirmed.
CARRIED
2. MINUTES OF THE MARCH 21, 2012
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes MESF
Report Trees
for Tomorrow
There was discussion regarding whether the
Town of Markham should fund York Region School Board initiatives recognizing
that the School Boards already receive half of the property tax funds. The Committee discussed the positive
partnerships that have developed with the students through these funded
initiatives.
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the Minutes of the March 21, 2012 Environment Issues Committee be received for
information purposes; and,
2) That the following recommendations from
the March 21, 2012 Environmental Issues Committee meeting be endorsed:
“That the Environmental Issues Committee recommends that the
demonstration rain garden proposed by TRCA be installed at the Markham Museum
instead of at the Warden House and be subject to review and approval by the Museum staff; and,
That the funding
application from Ontario Streams for $7,000, for a stream rehabilitation
initiative at Little Rouge Creek and Robinson Creek, be approved; and,
That the funding application from Wilclay Public
School for $3,392, for a waste audit, be approved, subject to working with
Waste and Environmental Management Department staff; and,
That the funding application from the 3rd
Unionville Scouts for $3,800, for plantings at Milton Feirheller Park, be
approved, subject to working with Parks Department staff and that an exception
to the funding criteria be provided, to allow this application to proceed prior
to completion of the Scout’s signage project in the Park; and,
That the application from
Armadale Public School for $5,000, for an outdoor classroom, be approved
provided the plant selection is approved by Parks Staff; and,
That the application from St. Edward Catholic
Elementary School for an outdoor classroom, be approved, in the amount of
$4,400, provided the plant selection is approved by Parks Staff and conditional
upon providing written consent of the school board for this project; and,
That the funding application
by 10,000 Trees for the Rouge requesting $23,000, to conduct their 23rd
Annual Community Tree Planting Event on Earth Day to complete the restoration
planting project to complete the planting of their 2011 planting site in Bob
Hunter Park be approved; and,
That the funding
application by Friends of the Rouge Watershed requesting $22,500 to conduct multiple
planting events in the spring planting season in Bob Hunter Park and be
approved; and,
That the funding
application by Evergreen requesting $29,400 to continue partnership with the
Town with their successful Common Grounds Program to conduct a series of
Community Planting Events and 8 to 10 Stewardship Events to promote, educate
and engage the community in tree planting events and stress the importance of
follow up maintenance work that is performed at volunteer stewardship events be
approved; and,
That the funding
application by LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) requesting
$30,000 to continue to offer their subsidized Backyard Tree Planting Program to
Markham residents and to continue to provide educational workshops such as the
Tree Tenders Course, along with other educational/stewardship opportunities be
approved; and further,
That the above requests be
funded from the Capital Project 12252 Markham Trees for Tomorrow
(700-101-5399-12252) in the amount of $104,900”
Note: At the April 18, 2012 Council meeting the
following clause was added to the above resolution:
"That the Environmental Issues Committee be
requested to review the funding criteria relative to York Region school
applications."
3. MINUTES OF THE MARCH 30, 2012
MILLIKEN MILLS COMMUNITY CENTRE,
LIBRARY AND PARK COUNCIL WORKSHOP (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded
by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the Minutes of the March 30, 2012 Council workshop regarding Milliken Mills
Community Centre, Library and Park be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
4. MINUTES OF THE APRIL 2, 2012
DIVERSITY INITIATIVES’ AND MUNICIPAL
SERVICES COUNCIL WORKSHOP (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim
Jones
1) That
the Minutes of the April 2, 2012 Council workshop regarding Diversity
Initiatives and Municipal Services Council Workshop be received for information
purposes.
CARRIED
5. MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 22,
2011
MARKHAM CEMETERY BOARD (16.0)
Minutes
There was brief discussion regarding the
mulched leaves. Staff confirmed that the
contractor removes all mulching from site and are composted.
The Committee requested that staff follow
up on the dirt that has been dumped at Pomona Mills Meadow.
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That the Minutes of the
November 22, 2011 Markham Cemetery Board be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
6. PROVINCIAL PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF
TAXES
–RATES FOR HOSPITALS, UNIVERSITIES AND
COLLEGES AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS (7.1)
Report
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That the report entitled “Provincial
Payment in Lieu of Taxes - Rates for Hospitals,
Universities and Colleges and Correctional Institutions ” be received
for information; and,
2) That Council request that the
Government of Ontario meet with municipalities to review an increase in the
rates set by the Province as payments in lieu of taxes for hospitals,
universities and colleges and correctional institutions; and,
3) That, as part of the review, a
mechanism be investigated to provide for regular updates to the rates on a go
forward basis; and,
4) That this request be forwarded to the
Premier of Ontario, Minister of Finance, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and
Housing, the Large Urban Mayors Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO), the Association of
Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and the Ontario Municipal Tax and Revenue
Association (OMTRA); and Ontario municipalities; and further,
5) That staff be authorized and directed
to do all the things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
7. 168-S-11 RENEWAL OF LIFE
INSURANCE CONTRACT (4.0)
Report
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That the report entitled “168-S-11
Renewal of Life Insurance contract” be received; and,
2) That contract 168-S-11
for Basic Life Insurance be extended with Sun Life Assurance Company for an
additional one (1) year (January 1 to December 31, 2012) in the estimated annual amount of $353,141 inclusive
of HST impact; and,
3) That contract 168-S-11
for Optional Life Insurance be extended with Sun Life Assurance Company for an
additional one (1) year (January 1 to December 31, 2012) in the estimated annual amount of $31,871 inclusive
of HST impact; and,
4) That the tendering
process be waived in accordance with Purchasing By-Law 2004-341, Part II,
Section 7 (1) (c) which states “when the extension of an existing contract
would prove more cost-effective or beneficial”; and,
5) That funds for Basic
Life Insurance be provided from account 030 220 0046 Payroll – Life in the
estimated annual amount of $353,141 inclusive of HST
impact; and,
6) That funds for Optional
Life Insurance be recovered from employees as required in the estimated annual
amount of $31,871 inclusive of HST impact; and,
7) That the Director of
Human Resources and Manager of Purchasing be authorized to extend the contract
for Basic Life Insurance for three (3) additional years, provided that it is in
the best interest of the Town and rate increase per year does not exceed 5% of
the cost of the previous year’s rate; and further,
8) That Staff be authorized
and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
8. MILLIKEN CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL
COMMITTEE STRUCTURE (3.5)
Report
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the report entitled "Milliken Children's Festival Committee
Structure" be received; and,
2) That
the Town of Markham establish the "Children's Festival Advisory
Committee," to coordinate the
Markham Milliken Children's Festival; and,
3) That
the Terms of Reference for the Milliken Children's Festival Committee be
approved; and,
4) That
the following individuals be appointed to the Children's Festival Advisory Committee for the term expiring on October 31,
2012:
Pat
Lee Ellakiya
Sivapalan Gowthaman
Rajakumar
Nappinder
Dogra Mayavan Ananthanadarajah Brendan Ng
Rishi
Narula Kethika Logan Councillor
Logan Kanapathi
5) That
the members of the committee for terms beginning after October 31, 2012 be recruited in accordance with the Town of
Markham Boards & Committee Appointment
Policy; and further,
6) That
staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
CARRIED
9. 2012 UNIONVILLE & MARKHAM VILLAGE
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS (B.I.A)
OPERATING BUDGET (7.4)
Report Exhibit
1 Exhibit
2
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That the report entitled
“2012 Unionville & Markham Village Business Improvement Areas (B.I.A.)
Operating Budgets” dated April 16, 2012 be received; and,
2) That the 2012 Operating
Budget in the amount of $256,000 for the Unionville B.I.A. (UBIA) be approved; and,
3) That the 2012 Operating
Budget in the amount of $305,665 for the Markham Village B.I.A. (MBIA) be
approved; and,
4) That the Special Tax
Rate levy, in the amount of $199,500 for the UBIA members and $215,327 for the
MBIA members be included in the 2012 Tax Levy By-law; and further,
5) That Staff be authorized
and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS
10. TASTE OF ASIA FESTIVAL (3.5)
There was discussion regarding whether the
Taste of Asia Festival still requires all of the Celebrate Markham Grant given
that they have also received Federal Funding.
ADJOURNMENT
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 9:35 AM.