General Committee Meeting - November 23, 2015

Minutes

General Committee

November 23, 2015

Meeting Number 31

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

Deputy Mayor Jack Heath

Regional Councillor Jim Jones

Regional Councillor Joe Li

Councillor Valerie Burke

Councillor Don Hamilton

Councillor Karen Rea

Councillor Colin Campbell

Councillor Amanda Collucci

Councillor Logan Kanapathi

Councillor Alex Chiu

Regrets

Mayor Frank Scarpitti

Regional Councillor Nirmala Armstrong

Councillor Alan Ho

Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer

Trinela Cane, Commissioner of Corporate Services

Brenda Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services

Catherine Conrad, City Solicitor

Kimberley Kitteringham, City Clerk

Joel Lustig, Treasurer

Alex Moore, Manager of Purchasing & Accounts Payable

Christopher Alexander, Acting Manager, By-Law Enforcement

& Regulatory Services

Carlie Turpin, Public Services & Records Coordinator

Peter Loukes, Director Environmental Services

Andrea Tang, Manager, Financial Planning

Veronica Siu, Senior Business Analyst

Alida Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator

The General Committee meeting convened at the hour of 9:11 AM with Deputy Mayor Jack Heath in the Chair.

General Committee recessed at 12:33 PM and reconvened at 1:28 PM.

Disclosure of Interest

None disclosed.

1. TOOGOOD POND (6.0)

Mr. Reid McAlpine, on behalf of the Unionville Business Improvement Area, The Unionville Ratepayers Association, The Unionville Villagers Association and The Unionville Historical Society addressed the Committee requesting that the City maintain Toogood Pond as an outdoor skating facility.

Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton

Seconded by Councillor Colin Campbell

That the deputation from Mr. Reid McAlpine regarding the request to maintain Toogood Pond as an outdoor skating facility be received; and,

That the request to maintain Toogodd Pond as an outdoor skating facility be referred back to staff and report back at the December 7, 2015 General Committee meeting.

Carried

2. MUNICIPAL TAX (7.3)

Shelly Srivastav, Markham resident addressed the Committee regarding the proposed 2016 municipal tax rate. She is requesting that the City consider ways to reduce the proposed increase in tax rate.

It was suggested that Joel Lustig, Treasurer, meet with Ms. Srivastav to discuss her concerns relative to the proposed municipal tax rate for 2016.

3. MARKHAM’S TAXI INDUSTRY (2.23)

Presentation

Kimberley Kitteringham, City Clerk, Chris Alexander, Acting Manager, By-Law Enforcement & Regulatory Services, and Carlie Turpin, Public Services & Records Coordinator delivered a PowerPoint presentation with respect to Markham’s Taxi Industry.

The Committee discussed the following with respect to Markham’s Taxi Industry:

· Number of “bandit” cabs and how do these get addressed?

· Limousine Industry – what service can they provide?

· Is the Uber service cheaper than licensed taxi cabs?

· The need for additional By-law officers to control the unlicensed service providers

· Tariff rate for Markham taxis

· Requirement of GTTA plate to pick up from Toronto Pearson International airport

· What should the role of municipalities be relative to the taxi industry

· The importance of redefining the regulatory definitions in the City’s By-law to include services that are being provided by Uber

· The importance of consistent province-wide rules/legislation to regulate share ride services

· Should taxi cabs be regulated by municipalities?

· Forward report to Markham MPP’s

· Ensure that insurance companies have a good idea of who is operating as Uber

· Can Uber vehicles have a sign on their vehicle

· Staff to report back on how much money these unregulated services are costing the municipality

· That the City Clerk forward a letter to Tim Hudak, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), Niagara West, Glanbrook to put a hold on the proposed bill to legalize Uber

The Committee suggested that staff provide a memo to the Budget Committee regarding hiring additional By-law enforcement officers.

Arie Leitman addressed the Committee regarding Markham’s Taxi Industry and stated concerns with the increasing licensing fees. He is requesting that the City update the By-law that regulates taxi services.

Spiros Bastas addressed the Committee with respect to Markham’s Taxi Industry and stated concerns with Uber service. He believes that uber drivers should be licensed through the municipality the same as taxi cabs.

Shahzad Ahmed addressed the Committee regarding Markham’s Taxi Industry and is requesting that the City update the By-law regulating taxi services to ensure that uber has no legal ability to continue their service.

Yohuda Shahaf addressed the Committee with respect to Markham’s Taxi Industry and suggesting that uber services should have a sign on their vehicles stating that it is an uber service. He believes that the municipalities should ensure uber services are licensed the same as taxi cabs.

Mansoor Iobal addressed the Committee regarding Markham’s Taxi Industry and stated concerns with the increasing fees to operate a taxi cab. He is requesting that the By-law be updated immediately.

Souhad Abdull addressed the Committee with respect to Markham’s Taxi Industry and stated concern with uberX services. He is suggesting that the taxi license fees be lowered.

Youseff Assoud addressed the Committee regarding Markham’s Taxi Industry and stated concerns with the unlicensed services taking away from licensed taxi cabs.

Vasilios Sakorafas addressed the Committee with respect to Markham’s Taxi Industry and stated concerns with the unlicensed taxi services such as Uber.

Tahir Sultan addressed the Committee regarding Markham’s Taxi Industry and stated concerns with the unlicensed taxi services.

Moved by Councillor Amanda Collucci

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

1) That the presentation by Ms. Kimberley Kitteringham, City Clerk, Mr. Chris Alexander, Acting Manager, By-Law Enforcement & Regulatory Services, and Ms. Carlie Turpin, Public Services & Records Coordinator entitled “Markham’s Taxi Industry” be received; and,

2) That staff report back to the General Committee on January 18, 2016 meeting with amendments to By-law 2012-92 to:

a) Revise the current definitions for taxicabs, owners, taxicab brokers & limousine service companies;

b) Add additional wording to prohibit the dispatching of unlicensed taxicabs & limousines; and,

3) That staff report back to General Committee in January, 2016 on the establishment of a Taxicab & Limousine Advisory Committee (TLAC) to assist the City in consulting with industry stakeholders; and,

4) That staff report back to General Committee meeting in February, 2016, on the following:

a) Fare rates;

b) A review of the City of Markham’s driver training requirements;

c) other regulations that affect the taxi industry; and,

5) That the deputations from Spiros Bastas, Arie Leitman, Shahzad Ahmed, Yohuda Shahaf, Mansoor Iobal, Souhad Abdull, Youseff Massoud, Vasilios Sakorafas and Tahir Sultan be received; and,

6) That staff continue to monitor the status of the Provincial Bill and collaborate with other Ontario municipalities on a unified policy approach to address Uber and report back to General Committee in the Spring, 2016; and,

7) That Markham’s Taxicab & Limousine Industry be encouraged to review & adopt customer service enhancements including:

• Online payment options

• Real time GPS tracking

• Direct customer feedback mechanism, and further,

8) That MPP’s work collaboratively with City of Markham and that this report be forwarded to all Markham MPP’s, The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, and Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario

Carried

4. STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PREVIOUS
AUDITOR GENERAL (11.0)

Presentation Appendix A

General Committee consented to defer this item to the December 7, 2015 General Committee meeting.

1) That the presentation by Ms. Trinela Cane, Commissioner, Corporate Services entitled “Status of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Auditor General ”, be received.

5. 2016 PROPOSED WATER/WASTEWATER RATES (7.4)

Presentation Report

Peter Loukes, Director, Environmental Services and Veronica Siu, Senior Business Analyst delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the 2016 Proposed Water/Wastewater rates.

There was brief discussion regarding the Carlton Road pumping station.

The Committee suggested that staff investigate the possibility of charging a homeowner for the water used by the Fire Fighter to put out a house fire.

There was discussion with respect to non-revenue water and how it is being better managed.

The Committee discussed the need for alternative ways to promote Markham’s drinking water as a preferred option rather than plastic bottled water.

There was discussion regarding potential ways to retrofit water fountains in older parks to ensure that they meet the water quality standards. It was noted that the retrofit options can be very expensive.

The Committee discussed synergies and efficiencies being done within the City’s waterworks department.

The Committee suggested that staff consider including the increase in hydro rates and property tax rates when the chart is presented at the Public Meeting.

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Don Hamilton

1) That the presentation by Mr. Peter Loukes, Director, Environmental Services and Ms. Veronica Siu, Senior Business Analyst, entitled “2016 Proposed Water/Wastewater Rates”, be received; and,

2) That the report entitled “Proposed 2016 Water/Wastewater Rate Increase” be received; and,

3) That Staff be authorized to hold a public meeting on December 7, 2015 at 7:00p.m. in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre to gather resident feedback on the proposed 2016 water/wastewater rate increase of $0.2597/m³ from $3.3154/m³ to $3.5751/m³; and,

4) That feedback received at the public meeting along with the proposed 2016 water/wastewater rate be tabled for consideration at the December 15th Special General Committee meeting scheduled for 6:00pm; and,

5) That the recommendation from the Special General Committee meeting be tabled for adoption by Council at the December 15th Council meeting scheduled for 7:00 p.m.; and further,

6) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

Carried