Minutes

Special General Committee

 

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

 

Mayor Frank Scarpitti Regional Councillor Gord Landon Regional Councillor Joe Li Councillor Valerie Burke Councillor Howard Shore Councillor Don Hamilton Councillor Carolina Moretti Councillor Alan Ho Councillor Logan Kanapathi     Regrets Deputy Mayor Jack Heath Regional Councillor Jim Jones Councillor Colin Campbell Councillor Alex Chiu

Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services Brenda Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services Catherine Conrad, City Solicitor Joel Lustig, Treasurer Bill Snowball, Fire Chief Paul Ingham, Director of Operations Peter Loukes, Director of Environmental Services Mary Creighton, Director of Recreation Services Sonia Singh, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Graham Seaman, Senior Manager Sustainability Office Dennis Flaherty, Director of Communications & Community Relations Alida Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator

 

The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:14 a.m. with Mayor Frank Scarpitti in the Chair. The General Committee recessed at 1:39 p.m. and reconvened at 2:24 p.m. without quorum.

 

Disclosure of Interest

 

None disclosed.

 

 

 

1.         ICE STORM 2013 (5.7)

            Presentation   PowerStream Presentation

 

Mayor Frank Scarpitti provided some opening remarks relative to the December 2013 Ice Storm.  He thanked the senior staff team and everyone involved who took the time during their holiday for their assistance during this event.

 

Staff delivered a detailed presentation relative to the response and recovery with respect to the December 2013 Ice Storm.

 

The Committee discussed the following relative to City issues and concerns with respect to the Ice Storm 2013:

·        Prioritize assessment of creeks, rivers and valleys that have tree debris to avoid the potential of flooding when the snow melts

·        Investigate other ways to communicate to residents such as receiving cell phones numbers or e-mail addresses through their tax bill

·        Consider implementing a policy or by-law with respect to not planting large trees within a certain distance from hydro lines

·        Request York Region to consider extending their hours of operations for the Bloomington Yard Waste Depot (if necessary)

·        Include a pamphlet in Councillor newsletters that outlines tips in emergency situations

·        How to deal with seniors that have disabilities and/or special needs

·        Communication strategies for future events

·        Issues with homes that have rear laneways

·        Importance of relaying accurate information to radio and television stations

·        Land lines – did it make a difference depending which service provider you had?

·        Ensure Members of Council are updated regularly during events like this one

·        Seek assistance from our advisory committees (such as senior, animal care, etc) to get information out

·        Resident associations – encourage them to hold annual “Emergency Situation tips” session

·        District energy and electrical back-up

·        Which City facilities should have 24/7 energy back up

·        Investigate “block captain” volunteer list

·        Include communication regarding emergency preparedness information in a future Markham Life magazine

 

Ms. Eira Keay, Markham resident, addressed the Committee with respect to the Ice Storm 2013 and thanked all City staff and especially Commissioner Trinela Cane for all their efforts during this event.  She requested that the hours of operation for the Bloomington Yard Waste Depot be confirmed that they are 8 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday.

 

Mr. Gord Walter, Markham resident, addressed the Committee regarding the Ice Storm 2013 and thanked all City staff for all their efforts and immediate response during this event.

 

Staff advised that they are currently working on a program with Miller Waste on how to handle larger tree stumps and indicated that currently large stumps that cannot be picked up will have a red spray paint marking and City crews will follow up with them.

 

It was suggested that Members of Council send any other information relative to this event to staff via e-mail.

 

Brian Bentz, President and Chief Executive Officer, PowerStream delivered a PowerPoint presentation relative to the Ice Storm 2013.

 

Mike Matthews, Senior Vice President, Operations & Construction delivered a PowerPoint presentation with respect to Operations Readiness.

 

Linas Medelis, Vice President, Customer Service, PowerStream, delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the customer communications.

 

Mayor and Members of Council thanked PowerStream especially their front line staff for all their efforts during the restoration period of the Ice Storm 2013.

 

Mr. Gord Walter addressed the Committee regarding the PowerStream website and suggested that a broadcast e-mail be considered in future regarding “warning” messages.

 

The Committee discussed the following relative to PowerStream issues and concerns regarding the Ice Storm 2013:

·        Challenges experienced with their outage management system and inter-active information maps (system did not handle 92,000 outages)

·        Communication challenges encountered during the Ice Storm event

·        Inaccurate information communicated – consider displaying street listing of where there are power outages on their website

·        Unique event resulting in many main feeder lines going down at the same time

·        The “1-877” number did not seem to work (would not accept the postal code entered) consider “punch in digits” rather than by voice (challenge with alpha numeric streams)

·        This event was not a down fall of the system, rather tree failure

·        Better time estimate of when the power would be restored (scope of work, unknowns made it very difficult to give definitive answers)

·        System average interruption index number

·        Rear lot wires - Members of Council would like an update at a future Board of Directors meeting with respect to when the infrastructure will be updated

·        Cost of buried wires

·        Consider communicating information via radios as well and more frequently during an event

·        Need for a comprehensive review of the system (technical)

·        Consider including a pamphlet in their next bill with a phone number that people can call in case of emergency

 

There was discussion regarding whether Markham should pass a resolution declaring a disaster area and submit an application to the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP).  Staff advised that a conference call is scheduled for Thursday by York Region with all the Regional Chief Administrative Officers and will report back on that.  It was suggested that following the conference call, if required, a Special Council meeting will be held to pass a resolution to send to ODRAP by January 14, 2014.

 

It was suggested that the presentations from today's meeting be placed on the next General Committee agenda to be received given today's meeting did not have quorum.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

There was no new business.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Special General Committee meeting adjourned at 3:56 p.m.