General Committee Minutes

Meeting Number: 6

Monday, May 04, 2020 at 9:30 A.m. - 12:00 P.m.

Live streamed

Roll Call

• Mayor Frank Scarpitti
• Deputy Mayor Don Hamilton
• Regional Councillor Jack Heath
• Regional Councillor Joe Li
• Regional Councillor Jim Jones
• Councillor Keith Irish
• Councillor Alan Ho
• Councillor Reid McAlpine
• Councillor Karen Rea
• Councillor Andrew Keyes
• Councillor Amanda Collucci
• Councillor Khalid Usman
• Councillor Isa Lee

Staff

• Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
• Trinela Cane, Commissioner, Corporate Services
• Brenda Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
• Arvin Prasad, Commissioner Development Services
• Claudia Storto, City Solicitor and Director of Human Resources
• Joel Lustig, Treasurer
• Bryan Frois, Chief of Staff
• Kimberley Kitteringham, City Clerk
• Martha Pettit, Deputy City Clerk
• Dave Decker, Fire Chief
• Phoebe Fu, Director of Environmental Services
• Hristina Giantsopoulos, Elections & Council/Committee Coordinator
• Scott Chapman, Council/Committee Coordinator
• John Wong, Technology Support Specialist II, Information Technology Services
• Meg West, Manager of Business Planning and Projects
• Adam Grant, Deputy Fire Chief
• Claudia Marsales, Senior Manager Waste Management & Environment
• Michael Dipasquale, Supervisor, Waste Management, Environmental Services

---

1.

CALL TO ORDER

In consideration of the ongoing state of emergency surrounding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the emergency public health orders issued by the Government of Ontario, this meeting was conducted electronically to maintain physical distancing among participants.

The General Committee Meeting convened at the hour of 9:32 AM in the Canada Room with  Regional Councillor Jack Heath presiding as Chair for all items on the agenda.  

2.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

There were none disclosed.  

3.

APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

3.1

MINUTES OF THE APRIL 20, 2020 GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)

• Moved by Councillor Isa Lee
  Seconded by Councillor Andrew Keyes
  1. That the minutes of the April 20, 2020 General Committee meeting be confirmed.
  Carried

4.

DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations. 

5.

COMMUNICATIONS

5.1

YORK REGION COMMUNICATIONS (13.4)

The Committee received the communications and discussed items 1a, 1b, and 1e.

The Committee acknowledged the work done by the Mayor, past and present Members of Council, and the support received from York Region, Vaughan and then Town of Richmond Hill relative to the Missing Link initiative.  Mayor, Frank Scarpitti extended a public thank you to the Honorable Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation, and Minister of Francophone Affairs, Phil Verster, President and CEO of Metrolinx and the collective staff of Metrolinx for their support to the City in this regard.

The Chair suggested that item 2a. Draft York Region Climate Change Action Plan be referred to staff for comments.  

• Moved by Councillor Reid McAlpine
  Seconded by Councillor Keith Irish
  1. That the following communications from York Region be received for information purposes:
     1. 2019 Annual Compliance Report for the York Region Rapid Transit Network
     2. Major Transit Station Areas Update
     3. 2019 Employment and Industry Report
     4. Planning for Employment and Employment Conversions
     5. Metrolinx to Crombie Regarding The Missing Link
     6. ventureLAB 2019 Results; and, 
  2. That the City of Markham provide comments by June 30, 2020 on the following communication from York Region that was received for information purposes during the April 20, 2020 General Committee meeting:
     1. Draft York Region Climate Change Action Plan
     2. That the Committee refer this item to staff for comments prior to June 30, 2020.
  Carried as Amended

6.

PETITIONS

There were no petitions.

7.

CONSENT REPORTS - FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES

7.1

MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 5, 2020 AND MARCH 4, 2020 BOARD OF MANAGEMENT UNIONVILLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA (16.0)

The Committee suggested that Councillor Reid McAlpine, and Deputy Mayor Don Hamilton, be noted  as Members of the Board of the Board of Management Unionville Business Improvement Area minutes.   

• Moved by Councillor Reid McAlpine
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Don Hamilton
  1. That the minutes of the February 5, 2020 and March 4, 2020 Board of Management Unionville Business Improvement Area Committee meeting be received for information purposes.
  Carried

8.

REGULAR REPORTS - COMMUNITY SERVICES ISSUES

8.1

SINGLE USE PLASTIC REDUCTION STRATEGY - PHASE 1 (5.1)

Claudia Marsales, Senior Manager, Waste Management & Environment, Environmental Services, introduced the Single Use Plastic Reduction Strategy - Phase 1 and delivered a presentation also entitled Single Use Plastic Reduction Strategy - Phase 1 which provided an overview of the single use plastic issue, how other governments are addressing it and the proposed phased in approach to eliminate or reduce single use plastic items in the City.   A video entitled, Markham's Polystyrene Foam Densifier Video was also presented and outlined how polystyrene received at the Polystyrene Recycling Building located at 8100 Warden Avenue is recycled.  

The Committee thanked staff for the presentation and discussed the following in relation to the program: 

• Types of materials currently accepted and consideration of food-use styrofoam containers or trays;
• Clarification that York Region dictates what is accepted in the Blue Box and that styrofoam is not accepted;
• The quantity of styrofoam ending up in landfills and volume of styrofoam densified;
• Clarification on the elimination of curbside styrofoam pick up;
• Consideration to review plastic bag initiatives after the Covid-19 Emergency;  
• Consideration of a cost benefit analysis on the program;
• Recognition that disposal of styrofoam in the waste stream has a cost for collection, transport and disposal;
• Concerns with the introduction of this strategy relative to the timing of the Provincial Recycling Program;
• Suggestions that recycling program strategies and enforcement should come from higher levels of government;  
• Concerns with illegal dumping;
• Consideration to create an additional box to collect styrofoam at curbside; and,
• Suggestions for public education, communication and an Open House.

Staff addressed the Committee and provided details on the program, and advised that the curbside ban suggested is for appliance and electronic type packaging not food packaging. There was additional information provided on the uses and marketability of City recycled materials and that single use plastic bags will be addressed in Phase 2.   

The Committee requested that staff bring back answers to the inquiries made to the next General Committee Meeting on May 19, 2020.  

• Moved by Councillor Reid McAlpine
  Seconded by Councillor Karen Rea
  1. That the report entitled “Single Use Plastic Reduction Strategy – Phase 1” be received; and,
  2. That the presentation entitled “Single Use Plastic Reduction Strategy - Phase 1 - Presentation” be received; and,
  3. That the Waste and Environmental Management Department undertake a review of all municipal facilities for opportunities to eliminate or reduce non-essential single use plastic (“SUP”) products and collaborate with the appropriate staff to source alternative products; and,
  4. That a community-wide education program be implemented to raise awareness of the SUP issue and provide options for SUP reduction; and,
  5. That effective October 20, 2020 (Waste Reduction Week) non-food packaging  Styrofoam be banned from curbside collection; and,
  6. That staff report back on the results of Phase 1 actions and outline Phase 2 recommendations regarding the implementation of a potential municipal by-law or other methods to reduce plastic retail shopping bags and polystyrene convenience food containers from distribution in Markham including the estimated financial impact and legal implications associated with the implementation and enforcement of a by-law; and,
  7. That a copy of this report and recommendations be forwarded to York Region and the local municipalities for their information; and further,
  8. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  Carried as Amended

8.2

RESPONSE TO YORK REGION – FIRE REGIONALIZATION (7.15)

Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer, addressed the Committee to discuss the City's position on the Regional Fire Service Study and that the City does not recommend supporting it. He noted that the City maintains excellent service and operation levels with respect to fire suppression along with the lowest costs per capita in York Region and that amalgamation would benefit northern communities at a cost to the City. 

Mr. Taylor added that the City has partnered with Richmond Hill and Vaughan through a Fire Shared Services Committee in regard to the following areas of service improvement for residents and businesses: joint training initiatives, technical rescue, centralized communications centre, automatic aid and standardized procurement.  

The Committee discussed further opportunities among fire services in southern York Region.  Staff indicated that they will report back on the Fire Shared Services opportunities.    

• Moved by Councillor Karen Rea
  Seconded by Councillor Isa Lee
  1. That Council not support proceeding with a Regional Fire Service study; and,
  2. That Staff recommend that we continue current efforts with Richmond Hill and Vaughan, in particular the creation of a shared communications centre that will enable further joint/shared opportunities to achieve efficiencies and to improve services to our residents and businesses.
  Carried

9.

MOTIONS

There were no motions.

10.

NOTICES OF MOTION

10.1

FEASIBILITY INVESTIGATION OF IMPLEMENTING FREE MICROSOFT 365 ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE TRIAL 

Regional Councillor Jones introduced a motion for discussion at the next General Committee Meeting on May 19, 2020.

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
  Seconded by Councillor Karen Rea

  Whereas, in just a few short months the Covid-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we live and work, and its impact will continue to be felt for the foreseeable future; and,

  Whereas, working remotely has created immense challenges for governments, businesses and employees, and has heightened the requirement for more integrated systems, and advanced collaboration tools and videoconferencing technologies to ensure productivity; and,

  Whereas, cities and workplaces are in the midst of an unprecedented digital transformation driven by the rise of mobile and connected systems, the explosion of online data, and the emergence of automated integrated business solutions and technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning; and,

  Whereas, the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the opportunity for governments and businesses to dramatically transform how they work, significantly improve operational efficiency, and support remote team collaboration; and,

  Whereas, the City of Markham is proceeding with its vision of a “frictionless City, with the implementation of Digital Markham, its roadmap for digital innovation, collaboration and partnership among citizens, businesses and government; and,   

  Whereas, Markham is already a leader in the provision of digital services and has already leveraged a number of the latest technology platforms to improve service delivery to residents and businesses including online voting, ePlan, and a full suite of online services; and,

  Whereas, cities need to consider the role technology should play in facilitating remote work, enhancing engagement, collaboration, new ways of working and potential leveraging of opportunities across municipalities/other levels of government; and,

  Whereas, Markham has become aware of potential benefits of Microsoft 365 in supporting “work anywhere”, organizational effectiveness and employee productivity, and a possible opportunity for a free six month trial of Microsoft 365 Enterprise software.

  And therefore, be it resolved that Markham Council direct Staff to investigate the opportunity and report back on the feasibility of implementing a free trial of the Microsoft 365 Enterprise integrated software solution, including associated costs, work effort, anticipated benefits and the establishment of a Council/Staff committee to guide the pilot, if approved.

11.

NEW/OTHER BUSINESS

11.1

YORK REGION - MANDATED REVIEW OF REGIONAL COUNCIL COMPOSITION (13.4)

There was discussion relative to the support, opposition, and alternative options to this matter.

• Moved by Mayor Frank Scarpitti
  Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
  1. That the communication dated February 27, 2020 from York Region regarding Mandated Review of Regional Council Composition be received for information purposes; and,
  2. That the City of Markham provides its consent by May 15, 2020 to a bylaw changing the size of Regional Council by increasing the number of members from the City of Vaughan from four to five.  
  Carried

12.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

12.1

TOWN HALL 

Mayor, Frank Scarpitti, addressed the Committee to announce that there will be another Town Hall, on Thursday May 7, 2020 at 7:00 PM with guest, Paul Calandra, Member of Provincial Parliament.

13.

CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS

General Committee did not resolve into Confidential Session and referred Confidential Item 13.2.1 to the Council Confidential Agenda on May 12, 2020.   Confidential Item 13.1.1 will be placed on a future General Committee Confidential Agenda for consideration.  

• Moved by Deputy Mayor Don Hamilton
  Seconded by Councillor Isa Lee
  1. That Confidential Item 13.2.1 be referred to the Council Confidential Agenda on May 12, 2020.
  Carried

13.1

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES

13.1.1

GENERAL COMMITTEE CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES - FEBRUARY 18, 2020 (16.0) [Section 239 (2) (a) (b) (c) (e) (f)]

13.2

LAND, BUILDING & PARKS CONSTRUCTION ISSUES

13.2.1

THE SECURITY OF THE PROPERTY OF THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD (8.7) [Section 239 (2) (a)]

14.

ADJOURNMENT

• Moved by Deputy Mayor Don Hamilton
  Seconded by Councillor Isa Lee

  That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 12:27 PM.

  Carried