General Committee
June 1, 2015
Meeting
Number 19
Finance & Administrative Issues Community Services Issues
Chair: Deputy Mayor Jack
Heath Chair: Councillor Alan Ho
Vice Chair: Councillor Colin Campbell Vice
Chair: Councillor Alex Chiu
Environment
& Sustainability Issues Building,
Parks, & Construction Issues
Chair: Councillor
Valerie Burke Chair: Councillor Colin
Campbell
Vice Chair: Councillor Karen Rea Vice Chair: Regional Councillor Nirmala
Armstrong
Alternate formats are available
upon request.
Attendance
|
|
|
Andy
Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
Jim
Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
Trinela
Cane, Commissioner of Corporate Services
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Catherine
Conrad, City Solicitor
Kimberley
Kitteringham, City Clerk
Joel
Lustig, Treasurer
Bill
Snowball, Fire Chief
Andrea
Tang, Manager, Financial Planning
Sharon Laing, Director of Human
Resources
Brett Lucyk, Public Realm Coordinator
Bob Penner, Manager, Utilities, Survey
& Asset Database
Mary Creighton, Director,
Recreation
Morgan Jones, Manager, Roads
Operation
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
|
|
|
|
|
The General Committee meeting convened at the hour of 9:03 AM with Deputy
Mayor Jack Heath in the Chair and Councillor Alan Ho Chaired Community Services
related items.
General Committee recessed at 12:31 PM and reconvened at 1:23 PM.
Disclosure of
Interest
None disclosed.
1. 2015
PROJECT ZERO CAMPAIGN (7.15)
Report
Mr. Trevor
Tuck, Director of Distribution Protection at Enbridge Gas Distribution and Mr.
Lee Grant, The Fire Marshal’s Public Safety Council were in attendance to
receive recognition from the City of Markham for their generous donation of
combination carbon monoxide/smoke alarms through the Project Zero Campaign.
The Committee thanked Enbridge for their generous
donation.
There was discussion regarding how to dispose of old
carbon monoxide/smoke alarms.
The Committee inquired what is being done to inform
residents that the installation of carbon monoxide alarm(s) is now required
near all sleeping areas in residential homes and in the service rooms and
adjacent sleeping areas in multi-residential units. Staff advised that there
has been a big campaign through the Province informing residents of this new
legislation. It was noted that carbon monoxide alarms can be hardwired,
battery-operated or plugged into the wall.
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Don Hamilton
1) That the report entitled 2015 Project Zero Campaign be received; and,
2) That Markham Fire and Emergency participate in the 2015
Project Zero Campaign; and further,
3) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
Carried
2. MINUTES
OF THE MAY 26, 2015
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by
Councillor Alan Ho
1) That
the minutes of the May 26, 2015 General Committee meeting be confirmed.
Carried
3. MINUTES
OF THE APRIL 20, 2015
CANADA DAY COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by
Councillor Alan Ho
1) That
the minutes of the April 20, 2015 Canada Day Committee meeting be received for
information purposes.
Carried
4. MINUTES
OF THE APRIL 20, 2015
MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL
ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by
Councillor Alan Ho
1) That
the minutes of the April 20, 2015 Markham Environmental Advisory Committee meeting
be received for information purposes.
Carried
5. MINUTES
OF THE APRIL 20, 2015
MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by
Councillor Alan Ho
1) That
the minutes of the April 20, 2015 Markham Public Library Board meeting be
received for information purposes.
Carried
6. DEVELOPMENT
CHARGES INDEXING
- JULY 1, 2015 (7.11)
Report
K. Ross, extension 2126
There was discussion
regarding whether modifications can be made to the Development Charges By-law. Staff noted that the By-law would need to be
re-opened to make any modifications and that the next review will be in 2018.
The Committee requested that
staff advise whether the construction price index has
kept pace with the actual cost incurred to construct infrastructure and provide
information on the changes implemented since 2005 to date to address any
shortfall in the index.
Moved by Councillor
Don Hamilton
Seconded by Regional
Councillor Jim Jones
1) That the report
titled “Development Charges Indexing – July 1, 2015” be received; and,
2) That
Council approve an increase in development charges of 1.2%, effective July 1,
2015; and further,
3) That
staff be directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this report.
Carried
7. STATUS
OF CAPITAL PROJECTS
AS OF APRIL 30, 2015 (7.5)
Report Exhibits
A-C
There was discussion
regarding the following Capital Projects:
·
Capital Project – 15011
·
Capital Project – 13017
·
Capital Project – 12371
·
Capital Project – 13026
The Committee
suggested that staff provide a response regarding what the funds for Capital
Project 13026 would have been used for prior to it going to Council.
Moved by Councillor
Don Hamilton
Seconded by Regional
Councillor Nirmala Armstrong
1) That the report dated May 20, 2015 entitled "Status of
Capital Projects as of April 30, 2015" be received; and,
2) That the amount of $5,551,321 from the closure of capital
projects be transferred to the sources of funding as listed on Exhibit A; and,
3) That the closure of
projects as outlined in Exhibit B and C be approved and amended to not close Capital Project
12371 – Milne Dam Conservation Area Master Plan; and,
4) That the Non-Development Charge Capital Contingency Project
be topped up from the Life-Cycle Replacement and Capital Reserve Fund by
$364,465 to the approved amount of $250,000; and,
5) That the Engineering Capital Contingency Project be topped
up, from the City-Wide Hard Development Charges Reserve, by $69,062 to the
approved amount of $100,000; and,
6) That the Design Capital Contingency Project be topped up,
from the Development Charges Reserve, by $7,459 to the approved amount of
$100,000; and,
7) That the Waterworks Capital Contingency Project be topped
up, from the Waterworks Stabilization/Capital Reserve, by $117,236 to the
approved amount of $100,000; and,
8) That the 2015 Capital Project – 15011 – Library Collections
be increased by $189,500 from $2,035,600 to $2,225,100; and further,
9) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
Carried
8. COUNCIL
AUDITOR GENERAL
SELECTION COMMITTEE (16.24)
Report
Kimberley
Kitteringham, City Clerk summarized the details in the report.
The Committee
discussed the Members of Council that should be appointed to the Auditor
General Selection Committee. It was
suggested that the Chair and Vice-Chair of General Committee; Chair and
Vice-Chair of Budget Subcommittee; Mayor Frank Scarpitti and Councillor Karen
Rea be appointed to the Auditor General Selection Committee.
Moved by Mayor Frank
Scarpitti
Seconded by
Councillor Amanda Collucci
1) That the report entitled “Council Auditor General Selection
Committee” be received; and,
2) That
the following Members of Council be appointed to the
Auditor General Selection Committee: Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Deputy Mayor Jack
Heath, Councillor Karen Rea, Councillor Colin Campbell, Councillor Amanda
Collucci and Councillor Logan Kanapathi; and further,
3) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give
effect to this resolution.
Carried
9. EMPLOYEE
SERVICE AWARDS PROGRAM (11.0)
Report
Mona Nazif, Senior
Manager, Human Resources addressed the Committee and summarized the proposed
changes to the Employee Service Awards program.
The Committee
discussed whether the lapel pins should continue and whether it should be given
out at 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, etc.
There was discussion
regarding the shifting in employee demographics and the increase in the
“millennial” generation as the baby boomer generation retires.
The Committee
suggested that staff report back on a potential alumni program.
Moved by Councillor
Don Hamilton
Seconded by Councillor
Karen Rea
1) That the report
titled Employee Service Awards Program be received, and,
2) That
the City replace the Employee Service Award Program (including gifts and lapel
pins) with a Service Celebration program that recognizes service through a
ceremony, and a focus on creating a culture of recognition throughout the
organization that supports employee engagement and alignment with corporate
goals and direction; and further,
3) That
Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
Carried
10. SHARED
PLACES OUR SPACES,
MARKHAM’S PUBLIC REALM STRATEGY (5.6)
Presentation Report Public
Realm Strategy Appendix
A
Brenda Librecz, Commissioner
of Community & Fire Services addressed the Committee and provided brief
opening remarks regarding Markham’s Public Realm Strategy.
Brett Lucyk, Public Realm
Coordinator delivered a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Shared Places Our
Spaces – Markham’s Public Realm Strategy.”
The Committee discussed the
following relative to the Public Realm Strategy:
·
Accelerating park delivery
in 2015
·
What will the budget amount
of $150,000 be used for
·
Keep costs in mind
·
Section 37 funds as a source
of funding this program
Moved by Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the presentation by
Mr. Brett Lucyk, Public Realm Coordinator entitled “Shared Places Our Spaces
–Markham’s Public Realm Strategy,” be received; and,
2) That the staff
report titled “Shared Places Our Spaces - Markham’s Public Realm Strategy”,
dated April 7, 2015 be received; and,
3) That the document “Shared Places Our
Spaces - Markham’s Public Realm Strategy” dated April 7, 2015 be approved in
principle; and,
4) That the 2016 funding requirement of
$150,000 will be considered as part of the 2016 budget process; and,
5) That Capital project designs include a
public realm component and the funding source be confirmed prior to proceeding
with the project; and further,
6) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
Carried
11. ICE
ALLOCATION UPDATE PRESENTATION (6.1)
Presentation
Mary Creighton,
Director, Recreation delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing an update
with respect to Ice Allocation.
The Committee
discussed the following with respect to Ice Allocation:
·
City ice rental rates
compared to private ice rental
·
Ensuring it is a fair and
equitable process
·
Ensure the focus is on Markham
residents first (balance needs to occurs given players come in to use ice, but
Markham residents also use rinks in adjacent municipalities)
·
Strategy to plan and build
more ice rinks in the future
·
Are there other options to
be considered to add rinks within various current structures (eg. converting a
soccer dome into a skating rink)
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by
Councillor Colin Campbell
1) That the presentation by
Ms. Mary Creighton, Director, Recreation entitled “Ice Allocation Update Presentation,”
be received.
Carried
12. GERMAN
MILLS MEADOW AND NATURAL
HABITAT LIAISON COMMITTEE
- REVISED TERMS OF REFERENCE (5.7)
Report Attachment
A Attachment
B
The Committee
inquired when Committee members will be recruited. Staff advised that they are working with the
Clerk’s department on the recruitment process.
Moved by Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by Regional Councillor Nirmala
Armstrong
1) That
the report entitled “German Mills Meadow and Natural Habitat Liaison Committee
Terms of Reference” be received; and,
2)
That Council endorse the Terms of Reference for the German Mills Meadow and
Natural Habitat Liaison Committee
– Attachment “A”, as amended by Council to include "minimum of two meetings per year"; and further,
3) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give
effect to this resolution.
Carried
13. MARKHAM
SPORT HALL OF FAME (6.0)
Presentation Report Terms
of Reference
Mary Creighton,
Director, Recreation delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the
establishment of Markham Sports Hall of Fame.
The Committee thanked
the members of the subcommittee and staff for all their work.
The Committee
discussed the following with respect to the Markham Sports Hall of Fame:
·
Dedicating a wall not a
room?
·
Could big events be
included? Somewhere in the building that include major events from the past and
future – international meets and qualifying events
·
Include display cases in the
hallway showcasing the newest members
Moved by Mayor Frank
Scarpitti
Seconded by Councillor
Amanda Collucci
1) The report titled
“Markham Sport Hall of Fame” be received; and,
2) That
Council approve the establishment of a Markham Sport Hall of Fame at the
Markham Pan Am Centre as described in the report; and,
3) That
the Sport Development Sub Committee be thanked for their commitment and work in
developing the Markham Sport Hall of Fames framework; and further,
4) That
Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
Carried
14. HENDERSON
AVENUE BRIDGE
MURAL PHASE II (5.6)
Report
Commissioner Brenda
Librecz briefly summarized the details outlined in the report.
Ward Councillor
Valerie Burke thanked staff for all their work on this project.
Moved by Councillor
Valerie Burke
Seconded by Regional
Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the report dated May 17, 2015 entitled Henderson Avenue Bridge Mural Phase II
be received; and,
2) That
Council approve $54,000 out of the $2,000,000 budget be allocated to the
Henderson Avenue Bridge mural (as outlined in the report dated May 6, 2014 Proposed Thornhill Park Improvements under Section 37); and,
3) That
the mural be funded from Project #14402, Thornhill
Park Improvement Projects; and further,
4) That staff be
authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
Carried
15. WINTER
MAINTENANCE SERVICE TASK FORCE (5.10)
Report Terms
of Reference
Commissioner Brenda
Librecz briefly summarized the details outlined in the report.
There was discussion
regarding whether a Winter Maintenance Service Task Force is necessary given
there was one established during the last term of Council that reviewed issues
and concerns with respect to winter maintenance. The original Task Force brought forward
recommendations that were implemented.
The Committee discussed that if the Task Force is re-established it
should have a specific and clear mandate.
The Committee suggested that Operations staff provide a presentation
outlining the current winter maintenance program and a summary of the implemented
recommendations from the previous Task Force.
Moved by Councillor Amanda
Collucci
Seconded by Councillor
Alex Chiu
1) That
the report entitled “Winter Maintenance Service Level Task Force” be received and referred to a General Committee Workshop;
and,
2) That
Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
Carried
16. WATER MAIN BREAKS HISTORY AND TRENDS (5.4)
Memorandum Attachment
A Attachment
B
Moved by Regional Councillor
Jim Jones
Seconded by Regional
Councillor Nirmala Armstrong
1) That the memorandum from Ms. Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner, Community & Fire Services and Mr. Peter Loukes, Director,
Environment Services entitled “Water Main Breaks History and Trends,” be
received.
Carried
NEW BUSINESS
17. CITY BUDGET (7.0)
Councillor Karen Rea
addressed the Committee and suggested that a line by line copy of the budget
should be made available for residents and she would like a copy. Staff advised that a binder is prepared with
that information that is being finalized, and when it is completed the document
is available on-line; a copy is provided at the Clerk's Department and copies
are provided at the municipal Libraries.
18. STANDING COMMITTEE START
TIME (16.0)
Councillor Alan Ho
addressed the Committee suggesting that Standing Committee meeting start at
9:30 am or 10:00 am. Staff advised that
the meeting calendar from September to December 2015 was approved at the May
26, 2015 meeting with the meeting start times as 9:00 a.m. It was noted that according to the City's
Procedural By-law 2001-1 section 3.25 states "a previously considered matter
may not be reconsidered by Council until four of its regular meetings have been
held after the meeting at which it was originally considered."
Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Nirmala
Armstrong
Seconded by Councillor Jim Jones
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 1:58 PM.
Carried