M I N U T E S

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

2004-5-11

Canada Room

 

Attendance

 

Mayor                          D. Cousens Regional Councillors     F. Scarpitti                                     J. Heath                                     J. Jones                                     B. O'Donnell Councillors                   S. Daurio                                     E. Shapero                                     J. Virgilio                                     G. McKelvey                                     J. Webster                                     D. Horchik                                     K. Usman                                     A. Chiu

J. Livey, Chief Administrative Officer J. Baird, Commissioner of Development    Services A. Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate Services C. Conrad, Town Solicitor B. Cribbett, Treasurer S. Birrell, Town Clerk P. Miller, Manager, Secretariat Services R. Watt, Director of Human Resources P. Loukes, Director of Operations & Asset    Management D. McClean, Fire Chief J. Lustig, Director of Financial and Client    Services F. Wong, Manager, Financial Planning A. Brown, Director of Engineering E. Yuen, Senior Compensation & Benefits    Specialist

The Committee of the Whole meeting convened at the hour of 5:12 p.m. with Mayor D. Cousens in the Chair.

 

DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST

 

None declared.

 

1.         MINUTES OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
            - APRIL 27, 2004 (16.0)

 

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Councillor K. Usman

 

That the minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held on April 27, 2004 be confirmed.

 

Carried

 

2.         COUNCIL'S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
            2004 TO 2006 (16.0)  )   weblink   

 

Committee had before it the report dated April 13, 2004 from the Chief Administrative Officer and the excerpt from the April 13, 2004 Committee of the Whole meeting at which it was agreed that Item 8 as outlined below would be included as part of the Action Plan for  "Addressing Gridlock and Rapid Transit":

 

            8.   Negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding with the Region of York to match rapid transit service levels with transportation supported developments in the rapid transit corridor.

 

It was confirmed that the priorities be amended to include the above Item 8.

 

Committee reviewed and discussed their priorities individually agreeing that the following amendments be made:

 

1.   Addressing Gridlock and Rapid Transit

 

Action Plan

 

·    Item 1 - Insert the words "... and conventional ..." between the words "...rapid ..." and "... transit ...".

 

·    Item 6 - change the word "... package..." to "... program ...".  Insert the words "... in progress ..." between the words "... done ..." and "... with...".  Add the words "... and status reports regarding transportation matters be forwarded to the Markham Board of Trade." to the end of the sentence.

 

·    Item 8 - add Item 8 as follows:

         "8.     Negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding with the Region of York to match rapid transit service levels with transportation supported developments in the rapid transit corridor."

 

·       Item 9 - add Item 9 as follows:

         "9.     Priority be given to working with the Region of York on Funding and prioritization."

 

·       Item 10 - add Item 10 as follows:

         "10.   Improve relationships with other levels of government and take advantage of subsidies."

 

·    Item 6 - change Item 6 to Item 1 and renumber the items.

 

 

2.   Creating a better quality of community

 

Action Plan

 

·       Item 6 - add Item 6 as follows:

         "6.     Develop a sense of Character Community."

 

 

3.   Improving environmental protection and management

 

·    Add to the end of the title the words "... and sustainability".

 

Action Plan

 

·    Item 1 - add the words "... reduction of the ..." before the words "... use of herbicides/pesticides, ...".  Add to the end of the sentence the words "... , built form, planning, and Eastern Markham Strategic Review."

 

 

5. Safe Streets

 

Action Plan

 

·       Item 4 - add Item 4 as follows:

 

         "4.     Upon completion of the final report on Safe Streets, the mandate of the Safe Streets Task Force will be expanded to include protecting communities.

 

Moved by Councillor E. Shapero

Seconded by Councillor K. Usman

 

That Council's 2004 to 2006 strategic priorities, as amended, be received and confirmed.

 

Carried

 

 

 

3.         REGION OF YORK
            WATER AND SANITARY CAPACITY ALLOCATION (5.3 & 5.5)

 

Moved by Councillor G. McKelvey

Seconded by Councillor K. Usman

 

That the presentation by Debbie Korolneck, Region of York, providing information from the Region of York on water and sanitary capacity allocation be received.

 

Carried

 

 

 

4.         WATER AND SANITARY CAPACITY ALLOCATION (5.3 & 5.5)  weblink

 

Moved by Councillor G. McKelvey

Seconded by Councillor K. Usman

 

That the presentation by the Director of Engineering and the Director of Planning providing information on water and sanitary capacity allocation be received;

 

And that staff report back by September, 2004 on:

 

      -        modeling assumptions and actual monitoring results

      -        Potential impact of surcharging in the York Durham Sanitary System (YDSS) in Markham

      -        Potential interim technical solutions to capacity constraints including but not limited to storage in the YDSS and municipal sewers and reduction of infiltration

      -        Sanitary allocation requirements and policies

      -        Future water allocation assignment by York Region and subsequent distribution by Markham to development and any related policy matters

      -        Financial impact of potential residential development slowdown;

 

And that no further residential draft plan/site plan be approved until staff report back on the above issues or the Region confirms in writing to the Town's satisfaction that sewage capacity allocation is available;

 

And that staff report back to the May 25, 2004 Committee of the Whole regarding:

 

      -        Markham's 2008 population cap

      -        whether Markham has more draft plan/site plan approved units than sewage capacity and allocation

      -        status of pending draft plan/site plan approvals;

 

And that staff be authorized to sole source and retain a consulting engineer to undertake a peer review of the Region's sewer model to be funded from the Engineering Department 2004 Operating Budget;

 

And that Regional Chair Bill Fisch and Mayor's of Regional Municipalities be advised accordingly.

 

Carried

 

 

 

5.         NEW FIRE STATION 98
            650 BUR OAK AVENUE, MARKHAM (7.15)  weblink 

 

Moved by Deputy Mayor F. Scarpitti

Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Heath

 

That Council approve initiating the Bur Oak Fire Station 98 project;

 

And that Council approve the principal of repeat design for the Bur Oak Fire Station to achieve the benefits outlined in this report and as authorized by section 27 of the Purchasing By-law 143-2000;

 

And that staff from Construction & Utilities and Finance Department be authorized to negotiate the terms of the award with Thomas Brown Architects Inc. and their team of Consultants for this project at a fee not to exceed 5.7% of the construction cost;

 

And that staff negotiate with the Architect the options of ownership of all Contract Documents or an acceptable further reduced fee for a package deal for future fire stations at Cornell and Cathedral and report back to the Finance and Administrative Committee on May 17, 2004;

 

And that the Project Manager report to the Building and Parks Construction Committee on budget, schedule and any issues;

 

And that staff provide reports to Council for direction and approval at the following stages:

·        Schematic Design and Cost approval

·        Site Plan Approval

·        Tender Award;

 

And that Council amend section 14 of the Purchasing By-law 143-2000 to permit purchase by negotiation where it is not in the public interest to solicit a competitive bid for goods and services, other than professional or consultant services.

 

Carried

 

6.         2004 OPERATING, CAPITAL AND
            WATERWORKS BUDGET (7.4 & 7.5)   weblink   1

 

Committee had before it the report dated May 11, 2004 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Treasurer with respect to the 2004 operating, capital and waterworks budgets.

 

It was the consensus that this matter be deferred and referred to the Council meeting this date.

 

Moved by Councillor K. Usman

Seconded by Councillor G. McKelvey

 

That consideration of the 2004 Operating, Capital and Waterworks Budgets be deferred and referred to the Council meeting this date.

 

Carried

 

 

 

7.         YORK REGION ENVIRONMENTAL
            ALLIANCE - REQUEST FOR IN-KIND SERVICE
            AND LETTER OF SUPPORT (5.7)

 

Committee had before it the tabled letter from the York Region Environmental Alliance advising of the 'Markham-Newmarket Idle-free Community Challenge' and requesting in-kind support for a Project Advisory Committee representative, a page on the Town's website and a letter of support from the Town for the project.

 

After some discussion it was agreed that staff should evaluate how the Town could participate in this project and report back to Committee.

 

Moved by Councillor E. Shapero

Seconded by

 

That the letter dated March 22, 2004 from York Region Environmental Alliance advising of the 'Markham-Newmarket Idle-free Community Challenge' and requesting in-kind support for a Project Advisory Committee representative, a page on the Town's website and a letter of support from the Town for the project, be received and referred to the Community and Fire Services Commission;

 

And that staff report back on how the Town of Markham can participate and the associated costs.

 

Carried

 

...................................................

 

Committee recessed at 6:58 p.m. and reconvened at 8:35 p.m.

 

...................................................

 

 

8.         BENEFITS FOR ELECTED
            OFFICIALS (16.23.2)

 

Committee had before it the report dated May 11, 2004 from the Director of Human Resources regarding improvement to benefits for elected officials.

 

The Chief Administrative Officer reviewed the proposed improvements for elected officials as outlined in the report and fielded questions together with the Director of Human Resources.

 

Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones

Seconded by Regional Councillor B. O'Donnell

 

That the matter of benefits for elected officials be referred to a Citizen Committee to review all Councillors' remuneration and benefits and report back to Committee of the Whole in fall, 2004;

 

And that staff bring back a report on the formation of this Citizen Committee as to membership and mandate.

 

Carried

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Committee of the Whole meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.