General Committee
January 20, 2014
Meeting
Number 3
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
Jim
Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
Trinela
Cane, Commissioner of Corporate Services
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Catherine
Conrad, City Solicitor
Joel
Lustig, Treasurer
Paul Ingham, Director of Operations
Dennis Flaherty, Director of
Communications & Community
Engagement
Marsha Mariani, Recreation Coordinator
Shane Manson, Senior Manager of Revenue
and Taxation
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:12 AM with Councillor
Valerie Burke in the Chair; Councillor Howard Shore Chaired Community Services
related items. Mayor Frank Scarpitti
assumed the Chair at 9:33 AM
Disclosure of
Interest
None disclosed.
1. SWIM TO SURVIVE (6.0)
Presentation
Marsha
Mariani, Recreation Coordinator delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding
the Swim to Survive program.
There was
discussion regarding the Swim to Survive + (plus) program that includes
"swim with clothes on." The Committee requested that staff report
back with the number of students that do participate and if there are parents
that do not permit their children to participate.
There was
brief discussion regarding adult Swim to Survive programs.
The
Committee suggested that the Swim to Survive + (plus) program consider
including other life saving skills such as safety tips for cold water. Staff pointed out that there is a package
sent out to the teachers outlining the program and that package will be
forwarded to Members of Council for information.
Moved by
Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That
the presentation provided by Marsha Mariani, Recreation Coordinator, entitled
"Swim to Survive" be received.
CARRIED
2. REASSESSMENT MARKET UPDATE
IMPACT (7.1)
Presentation Summary
Shane
Manson, Senior Manager of Revenue delivered a PowerPoint presentation outlining
the impact of the reassessment market.
Staff pointed out that the Current Value Assessment (CVA) is independent
of the City's budget process.
The Committee discussed the following with
respect to the reassessment market update impact:
·
Assessment increases phased-in
over four years, and decreases in value experienced in the first year of the
cycle
·
Can property specific tax examples include
numerical values in addition to percentages
·
Information currently provided
on the municipal tax bill – can additional information be added
·
Review of property tax
eligibility and exemption status with respect to schools and places of worship
·
Review and consider current
messaging within the brochure that is included with the tax bill
Moved by
Councillor Don Hamilton
Seconded by
Councillor Colin Campbell
1) That
the presentation provided by Shane Manson, Senior Manager of Revenue and
Taxation, entitled "Reassessment Market Update Impact" be received;
and,
2) That
the summary, entitled "2014 Reassessment Market Update Impact
Summary" be received.
CARRIED
3. PORTAL DEMONSTRATION (12.2)
No Attachment
Dennis
Flaherty, Director of Communications and Community Engagement provided a
demonstration of the City's Portal and enhancements put in place since the
launch of the portal in 2011.
The Committee
thanked Dennis for the demonstration and congratulated the cross commission
team for all their work with respect to the City Portal.
The
Committee discussed and suggested the following relative to the City's Portal
·
Continue
investigating the potential for a sign up form on the home page
·
Ensure
interactive forms are up to date
·
Increase
the size of the headers
·
"Markham
News" section have two rows of buttons
·
Examine
if the search engine can be friendly/easier to use
·
Use
the banner to highlight all the on-line services
·
Event
pictures (staff advised all Corporate photos are in a shared drive that Members
of Council and their assistants can access)
The
Committee requested that staff forward Members of Council the statistics with
respect to the Portal site.
Moved by
Councillor Howard Shore
Seconded by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That
the demonstration provided by Dennis Flaherty, Director of Communications and
Community Relations on The City's Portal be received.
CARRIED
4. MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 14,
2014 GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Joe Li
1) That
the Minutes of the January 14, 2014 General Committee be confirmed.
CARRIED
5. MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 20,
2013 ANIMAL CARE COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Joe Li
1) That
the Minutes of the November 20, 2013 Animal Care Committee be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
6. MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 15, 2013 INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS
AND TECHNOLOGY SUB-COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
There was discussion with respect to ensuring
that paper copies for standing committee and Council agendas be provided only
to Members that request them. The
Committee pointed that deputants should also be encouraged to not bring paper
copies. Staff advised that they do
encourage deputants to bring electronic copies of their delegations. There was
discussion regarding the importance of providing clear and readable information
for all Subcommittee and Advisory agendas.
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor Joe Li
1) That
the Minutes of the November 15, 2013 Information, Communications and Technology Sub-Committee be received
for information purposes.
CARRIED
7. MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 18, 2013 VICTORIA SQUARE COMMUNITY
CENTRE BOARD (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor Joe Li
1) That
the Minutes of the November 18, 2013 Victoria Square Community Centre Board be
received for information purposes.
CARRIED
8. MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 4, 2013 RACE RELATIONS COMMITTEE
(16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor Joe Li
1) That
the Minutes of the November 4, 2013 Race Relations Committee be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
9. MINUTES
OF THE NOVEMBER 7, 2013 SENIORS HALL OF FAME AWARDS COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Councillor
Howard Shore advised that the Seniors Hall of Fame Committee is looking for
nominations.
Moved by
Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Joe Li
1) That
the Minutes of the November 7, 2013 Seniors Hall of Fame Awards Committee be
received for information purposes.
CARRIED
10. MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 17 AND NOVEMBER 21, 2013 MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL
ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)
Oct.
17 Nov.
21
Committee
congratulated Councillor Colin Campbell for the proposal to hold a lantern walk
in the Cornell area. Councillor Campbell
advised that he will provide more details on his proposed event at the February
3, 2014 General Committee meeting.
Moved by
Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Joe Li
1) That
the Minutes of the October 17 and November 21, 2013 Markham Environmental
Advisory Committee received for information purposes.
CARRIED
11. MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 16, 2013 GREENPRINT STEERING COMMITTEE
(16.0)
Minutes Report
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor Joe Li
1) That the Minutes of the December 16,
2013 Greenprint Steering Committee be received for information purposes; and,
2) That the report titled Markham Organic Home Gardens Pilot
Project and the accompanying Pilot Project Report (Appendix A) dated December
16, 2013 be received; and,
3) That the Markham Organic Home Gardens Program be approved
for city-wide implementation in 2014 led by the Sustainability Office at gross
cost of $37,700. $15,000 of this will be funded from Project # 14064 Community Food
Projects; $17,700 will be funded through the City’s Career Edge Program,
already included in the 2014 Operating Budget and $5,000 will be funded through
corporate sponsorship. The net cost to the City will be $15,000; and,
4) That staff in the Sustainability Office report back on the
2014 Markham Organic Home Gardens Program at the end of 2014; and further,
5) That staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
12. STAFF AWARDED CONTRACTS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2013 (7.12)
Report
The Committee discussed the following staff awarded
contracts:
·
259-Q-13 Supply of Traffic Control Services
·
286-T-13 Daniels Fairty House Stabilization and
Preservation - Construction
·
167-R-13 Provision of Personal Fitness Training
Services
·
242-R-13 Thornlea Pool, Building Maintenance and Pool
Maintenance
·
105-Q-13 Cornell Media Room Hardware, Software and
Support
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor Joe Li
1) That
the report entitled “Staff Awarded Contracts for the Month of December 2013” be
received; and,
2) That
Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
CARRIED
13. HERITAGE ESTATES SUBDIVISION - FIRST MORTGAGE LIMITATION (8.2
& 16.11)
Report
There was
brief discussion regarding the proposal to increase the amount of permitted first
mortgages for lots in Markham Heritage Estates.
The
Committee suggested that the mortgage limitation be reviewed every five years.
Moved by
Councillor Don Hamilton
Seconded by
Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
1) That
the report entitled “Heritage Estates Subdivision - First Mortgage Limitation”
be received; and,
2) That
the standard Agreement of Purchase and Sale for a vacant lot in Markham
Heritage Estates Subdivision be revised to permit:
a) An increase in the maximum principal
amount of first mortgage in priority to the City’s second mortgage, from $350,000
to $500,000, upon the acquisition of the lot by the purchaser.
b) A further increase in the principal
amount of a first mortgage, up to 70% of market value of the lot and its
improvements, upon refinancing of the first mortgage during or after
renovations; and,
3) That the Heritage Estates Subdivision -
First Mortgage Limitation be reviewed every
five years; and further,
4) That Staff be
authorized and directed to take the actions set out in this report.
CARRIED
14. GERMAN MILLS MEADOW AND NATURAL HABITAT LIAISON COMMITTEE
(16.24)
Councillor
Howard Shore advised the Committee that he has received a request to amend the
Terms of Reference for the German Mills Meadow and Natural Habitat Liaison
Committee to include a representative from the German Mills Resident
Association.
Moved by
Councillor Howard Shore
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Joe Li
1) That the Terms of Reference for the
German Mills Meadow and Natural Habitat Liaison Committee be amended to include a representative from the
German Mills Resident Association;
and,
2) That the German Mills Resident
Association be advised of this amendment; and,
3) That the German Mills Resident
Association advise the City of Markham who their representative will be; and further,
4) That Staff be authorized and
directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
15. IN-CAMERA MATTERS
General Committee consented to add two (2) items to the in-camera
agenda.
Moved by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by Councillor Alan Ho
That, in accordance with Section 239 (2) of the Municipal Act, General Committee resolve into an
in-camera session to discuss the following confidential matters (11:56 AM):
(1) GENERAL COMMITTEE
IN-CAMERA MINUTES - JANUARY 14, 2014 (16.0)
[Section 239 (2) (b) (b) (e) (b)]
(2) A PROPOSED OR PENDING ACQUISITION OR
DISPOSITION OF LAND BY THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD (WARD 5) (7.0 & 8.6)
[Section
239 (2) (c)]
(3) PERSONAL MATTERS ABOUT AN IDENTIFIABLE INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING
MUNICIPAL OR LOCAL BOARD EMPLOYEES (BOARD/COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS) (16.24)
[Section 239 (2) (b)]
(4) LABOUR
RELATIONS OR EMPLOYEE NEGOTIATIONS (COLLECTIVE BARGAINING) (11.0)
[Section
239 (2) (d)]
CARRIED
Moved by Regional Councillor Joe Li
Seconded by Councillor Alan Ho
That the General Committee rise from the in-camera session at 1:13 PM
CARRIED
Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Alan Ho
Seconded by Councillor Valerie
Burke
That the General Committee meeting adjourned at 1:15 PM
CARRIED