FEBRUARY 9, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

MINUTES

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE

All Members of Council

Development Services                                                                 Economic Development

Chair:              Councillor J. Webster                                                                             Chair:             

Vice-Chair:      Councillor D. Horchik                                                                            Transportation Issues

                                                                                                                                        Chair:          Regional Councillor G. Landon

 

 

PART A

Presentations, Major Studies, and Issues Agenda

9:00 a.m. – Canada Room

 

Attendance

Mayor F. Scarpitti Deputy Mayor J. Heath Regional Councillor J. Jones Regional Councillor G. Landon Regional Councillor J. Virgilio Councillor V. Burke Councillor D. Hamilton Councillor C. Moretti Councillor J. Webster Councillor D. Horchik Councillor L. Kanapathi Councillor A. Chiu   Absent Councillor E. Shapero

J. Livey, Chief Administrative Officer J. Baird, Commissioner of Development Services A. Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate Services B. Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services A. Brown, Director of Engineering S. Chait, Director, Economic Development C. Conrad, Town Solicitor M. Visser, Manager Financial Strategy & Investments C. Kakaflikas, Manager, Special Projects B. Karumanchery, Senior Development Manager R. Kendall, Manager, Central District V. Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design A. Tari, Committee Clerk

 

The Development Services Committee convened at 9:02 AM in the Canada Room with Councillor J. Webster in the Chair.  

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

 

None disclosed.

 

 

 

1.         DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- January 19, 2010, Part A (10.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones

 

That the minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting, Part A, held

January 19, 2010, be confirmed.

CARRIED

 

 

 

2.         CENTENNIAL GO TRANSIT
            PARKING STRUCTURE
            (5.14.2)

            Presentation

 

Mr. Troy Bauman, Senior Project Manager, SMA Mettko delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing an update with respect to the design concept for the Centennial GO Transit Parking Structure.

 

The Committee suggested that the following be considered further:

• More preventative measure to discourage bird strikes on the glassed area (eg. fritted glass)
• Increase the vegetation around the building
• Charging a fee for parking
• Increase the bike storage area and provide a more secured storage in place of simple bike racks
• Have sidewalks built that lead to the parking lot from the surrounding residential areas and the community centre and have them maintained in the winter
• The proposed “GO” sign at the two sides of the building must conform with the sign by-law
• incorporate more sustainable initiatives into the design (eg. white roof)

 

Mr. Bauman advised the Committee that the suggestions and comments received at today’s meeting will be further discussed with the representative’s from GO Transit and Metrolinx.

 

Moved by Councillor D. Hamilton

Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Virgilio

 

That the presentation provided by Mr. Troy Bauman, Senior Project Manager, SMA Mettko regarding the Centennial Go Transit Parking Structure, be received.

CARRIED

 

 

 

3.         GROWTH MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
            PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
            DRAFT PRESENTATION
            (10.0)

 

 

Ms. Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design, advised the Committee that as of today two notices regarding the February 16, 2010 Public Information Session have been published in the Local newspapers (one highlighting the change in venue to the Hilton Suites) and that planning staff have also sent out notices by e-mail and regular mail to constituents that have requested to be notified.  She provided the Committee with a quick overview of the presentation that staff will be giving at the February 16, 2010 meeting and pointed out that it is in draft format.  Ms. Shuttleworth indicated that once the presentation is finalized it will be available on the Town’s website.

 

The Committee inquired why there will not be any Provincial representation at the meeting.  Staff advised that they and the Mayor tried their best to have someone from the Province attend and present at the meeting but unfortunately the Province declined.

 

The Committee suggested that the following be considered with respect to the “Information Sheet” handout:

• provide clear language for the definitions
• have important dates highlighted
• less pictures and a larger print font

 

The Committee suggested that the following be considered with respect to the “Draft Presentation”:

• the slide that refers to the different housing mix have them “phase in” during the presentation
• include the option of 52% intensification
• do not use colours that may be difficult for the audience to read (eg. brown on brown)
• include a dot map that illustrates or images that will help the audience understand where the intensification will potentially happen and what it might look like
• make it clear at the beginning and throughout the presentation that no decision will be made at the February 16, 2010 meeting
• ensure that the public understands that when Council makes a decision on the growth option for Markham that it can be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board (include a process slide)
• sustainable initiatives need to be more prominent
• use a different colour than yellow when referring to the foodbelt
• providing hard copies of the presentation for members in the audience

 

There was discussion regarding the potential implications that the Town of Markham could face if our forecasted growth numbers do not comply with the Regional Official Plan and the Provincial Places to Grown Act, 2005.

 

Mr. Harry Eaglesham, President, Unionville Ratepayers Association, addressed the Committee regarding the information that will be presented at the February 16, 2010 Public Information Session advising that if staff require more time to deliver their presentation that they should be permitted the time.  He believes having a question period is important.  Mr. Eaglesham indicated that this upcoming meeting is not the end of the process instead part of an on-going process.

 

Moved by Regional Councillor J. Virgilio

Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu

 

That the presentation provided by Ms. Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design regarding the Growth Management Strategy Public Information Meeting Draft Presentation, be received.

CARRIED

 

 

 

4.         FINANCIAL EVALUATION TO THE
            GROWTH MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
            (10.0)

            Presentation

 

Mr. Mark Visser, Manager Financial Strategy & Investments, advised the Committee that today’s presentation is much more detailed than what will be presented at the February 16, 2010 Public Information Session.

 

Mr. Cam Watson, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd., delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing an overview of the fiscal impacts related to the growth options being considered by the Town of Markham.

 

There was discussion regarding the assumptions made related to Fire Services and Parkland and that more information is required. 

 

The Committee inquired whether the report will include any potential risk factors associated to no boundary expansion (100 % intensification) and the future of gas and oil supplies.  Mr. Watson advised that those types of issues and concerns will be included in the sensitivity analysis.

 

The Committee suggested that the following be considered further:

• taxes per capita with mixed use developments
• page 12 of presentation the second bullet should include another sentence to provide a clearer explanation
• take into account the possibility of the requirement to provide underground electrical distribution in the future
• possibility of amendment to the Condo Corporation Act
• amend the Gross Population figure in table 1 to reference 2009 numbers
• incorporate climate change into the analysis

 

There was discussion with respect to incorporating the Region of York and the School Board into the analysis.  

 

The Committee stated concerns about these figures being presented at the February 16, 2010.  Staff advised that they will only reference them in the presentation at the February 16, 2010 meeting similar to the Engineering studies.

 

There was discussion regarding soft services and their relation to overall lifestyles.

 

Moved by Regional Councillor J. Virgilio

Seconded by Councillor C. Moretti

 

That the presentation provided by Mr. Cam Watson, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. regarding the Financial Evaluation to the Growth Management Strategy, be received.

 

CARRIED

 

 

5.         MARKHAM/GREATER TORONTO MARKETING ALLIANCE
            BUSINESS MISSION TO INDIA NOVEMBER 2009
            POST - MISSION UPDATE
            (10.16)

            Presentation

 

Ms. Christina Kakaflikas, Manager, Special Projects delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing an update with respect to the Markham/Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance Business Mission to India November 2009 Post.

 

Mr. Gerald Pisarzowski, VP Business Development, Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, addressed the Committee advising that they are moving forward with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chambers.

 

There was brief discussion regarding the three main companies from India coming to Canada.

 

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi

 

That the presentation provided by Ms. Christina Kakaflikas, Manager, Special Projects regarding the Markham/Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance Business Mission to India November 2009 Post - Mission Update, be received.

CARRIED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

 

6.         REFRESHMENTS AT STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS (9.0)

 

Councillor Webster requested that bottled water be provided for Standing Committee and Council meetings held in the Council Chambers and the Canada Room.  He advised that on many occasions the glasses provided for the jugs of water were not clean. 

 

There was discussion about speaking to Merlyn about the issue of dirty glasses and whether consideration can be made to allowing another catering company supply the refreshments at the meetings.  The Committee suggested that staff report back.

 

 Moved by Councillor V. Burke

Seconded by Councillor D. Hamilton

 

That staff be directed to prepare a report regarding the use of bottled water in place of water jugs at Standing Committee and Council meetings.

CARRIED

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Development Services Committee meeting adjourned at 12:10 PM.