Electronic Revised Council Meeting Agenda
Revised Items are Italicized.

Meeting No. 16

Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 1:00 P.m. - 4:30 P.m.

Live streamed

​Alternate formats for this document are available upon request.

Council meetings are live video and audio streamed on the City's website.

Note: As per Section 7.1(h) of the Council Procedural By-Law, Council will take a ten minute recess after two hours have passed since the last break.​

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We begin today by acknowledging that we walk upon the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples and we recognize their history, spirituality, culture, and stewardship of the land. We are grateful to all Indigenous groups for their commitment to protect the land and its resources and we are committed to reconciliation, partnership and enhanced understanding.

2.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

3.

APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

3.1

COUNCIL MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

• 1. That the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on September 15, 2020, be adopted.

4.

PRESENTATIONS

5.

DEPUTATIONS

5.1

DEPUTATIONS - GEESE MANAGEMENT AT SWAN LAKE – OVERVIEW OF OPTIONS AND PATH FORWARD (5.0)

The following will address Council on this matter:

1. Madeleine Nevins 
2. Rain Geiger
3. Darrell Heffernan

(See Item 8.2.1, Report 26.)

6.

COMMUNICATIONS

6.1

29-2020 - LIQUOR LICENCE APPLICATION - UPPER UNIONVILLE GOLF CLUB (WARD 6) (3.21)

(New liquor licence for indoor and outdoor areas)

• 1. That the request for the City of Markham to complete the Municipal Information Form be received for information and be processed accordingly.

6.2

30-2020 - LIQUOR LICENCE APPLICATION - CREATE WITH KIRSHY (WARD 1) (3.21)

(New liquor licence for indoor area)

• 1. That the request for the City of Markham to complete the Municipal Information Form be received for information and be processed accordingly.

6.3

31-2020 - MEMORANDUM - GEMTERRA (WOODBINE) INC. 9064-9110 WOODBINE AVENUE, TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO SCHEDULE ‘A’ OF BY-LAW 2019-82, FILE NO. ZA 17 153653 (WARD 2) (10.5)

Memorandum dated September 30, 2020 from the Commissioner, Development Services regarding "Gemterra (Woodbine) Inc. 9064-9110 Woodbine Avenue, Technical Amendment to Schedule ‘A’ of By-law 2019-82, File No. ZA 17 153653 (Ward 2)".

• 1. That the memorandum entitled “Gemterra (Woodbine) Inc., 9064 to 9110 Woodbine Avenue, Technical Amendment to Schedule ‘A’ of By-law 2019-82, File No. ZA 17 153653, dated September 30, 2020 be received; and,
  2. That Schedule ‘A’ to By-law 2019-82, be repealed and replaced with a revised Schedule ‘A’ attached hereto; and further,
  3. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

      

6.4

32-2020 - MEMORANDUM - SWAN LAKE GEESE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM – ADDITION OF STROBE LIGHTS (5.0)

Memorandum dated September 29, 2020 from the Director, Environmental Services regarding "Swan Lake Geese Management Program – Addition of Strobe Lights)".

• 1. Staff do not recommend that the strobe lights be installed based on other organization’s experiences, low likelihood of success, potential risks associated with other wildlife in the park, and limited time usage (1.5 months).

7.

PROCLAMATIONS

7.1

PROCLAMATIONS (3.4)

No Attachment

• 1. That the following proclamations, issued by the City Clerk in accordance with the City of Markham Proclamation Policy, be received for information purposes:
     1. Caribbean Heritage Month - October 2020
     2. Wrongful Conviction Day - October 2, 2020
     3. Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day - October 22, 2020
  2. That the following new request for proclamation, issued by the City Clerk in accordance with the City of Markham Proclamation Policy, be received and added to the Five-Year Proclamations List approved by Council:
     1. Dyslexia Awareness Month - October 2020

8.

REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE

8.1

REPORT NO. 25 - DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE (SEPTEMBER 14, 2020)

Please refer to your September 14, 2020 Development Services Committee Agenda for reports.

Mayor and Members of Council:

• That the report of the Development Services Committee be received & adopted. (1 Item):

8.1.1

9999 MARKHAM ROAD, HOLD (H) PROVISION, 2585231 ONTARIO INC., ZA 18 180621 (10.5)

• 1. That the deputation by Michael Walker, OnePiece Developments, be received.
  2. That Staff be directed to bring forward a by-law for Hold (H) removal from the Phase 1C lands after staff and the applicants have reviewed the development concepts for Phases 1B and 1C and have reached agreement on the appropriate land area requirements for each Phase and provided an appropriate zoning by-law amendment application for the Phase 1C lands has been reviewed and approved by Council; and,
  3. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

   

8.2

REPORT NO. 26 - GENERAL COMMITTEE (SEPTEMBER 21, 2020)

Please refer to your September 21, 2020 General Committee Agenda for reports.

Mayor and Members of Council:

• That the report of the General Committee be received & adopted. (Items 1 to 3):

8.2.1

GEESE MANAGEMENT AT SWAN LAKE – OVERVIEW OF OPTIONS AND PATH FORWARD (5.0)

• 1. That the presentation entitled “Geese Management at Swan Lake – Overview of Options and Path Forward”, dated September 21, 2020, be received; and,
  2. That Council approve the proposed changes outlined in the presentation to the existing Swan Lake Geese Control program; and,
  3. That a review of options for modifying the habitat to deter geese from Swan Lake shall be considered through the Park Refresh Plan; and,
  4. That the budget shortfall, in the amount of $9,500, be funded from the Non-DC capital contingency for project 20250 Water Quality Improvements and Geese Control for the implementation of 2020 fall hazing and volunteer program; and,
  5. That the 2021 Water Quality Improvements and Geese Control project request include $10,000 for the TRCA managed geese relocation program; and,
  6. That Council approve an additional $9,000.00 to include a strobe light pilot for geese population management; and,
  7. That staff be directed to provide additional information on the impacts of a strobe light pilot program to foster geese population management for the Council Meeting on September 30, 2020, and further,
  8. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

8.2.2

ASSUMPTION OF MCCOWAN ROAD WATERMAIN AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTED BY THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK (5.0)

• 1. That the report entitled “Assumption of McCowan Road Watermain and associated infrastructure constructed by the Regional Municipality of York” be received; and,
  2. That Staff be authorized to assume the ownership of the new McCowan Road 150mm diameter PVC watermain and associated infrastructure constructed by The Regional Municipality of York; and, 
  3. That the Director of Environmental Services be authorized to execute the Memorandum of Understanding between The Regional Municipality of York and the City of Markham related to the assumption of McCowan Road Watermain and associated infrastructure, to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor; and further,
  4. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

8.2.3

EMERGENCY COVID-19 RELIEF FOR THE HOTEL ACCOMMODATION SECTOR (10.16)

• Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented public health challenges to Canada which has resulted in a slowdown of the Canadian economy and has created significant financial pressures to most industry sectors; and,

  
  Whereas this unprecedented environment of economic uncertainty has directly and immediately impacted the hospitality and tourism sectors,  with hotels experiencing record low occupancy rates driven in part by the closure of international borders, reduced business workshops and conferences combined with lower consumer travel confidence; and,

  
  Whereas the uncertainty of recovery timing and the expectation that a full recovery may take several years, it is imperative that the provincial government provide immediate measures to protect and assist Ontario’s Hotel Industry so they can remain resilient and
  viable during this uncertain time; and,

  
  Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic had prompted the Province of Ontario to postpone the 2020 Assessment Update, and further directed that all Ontario property assessments to be levied upon for the 2021 tax year, continue to be based on the fully phased-in assessment amounts utilized for the 2020 tax year; and,

  
  Whereas the current property assessment values of hotel properties do not represent the current negative financial impact of COVID-19 and the substantial decrease in revenue experienced by Hotels, which will result in inaccurate property assessments and significant property tax burdens moving forward into the 2021 taxation year and beyond; and,

  
  Whereas Markham Council through the Destination Markham Corporation is in the midst of launching several programs and strategic initiatives to support the reopening and recovery of the tourism economy with the goal of increasing Hotel overnight stays,

  
  Now therefore be it resolved:

  1. That Markham Council requests the Province of Ontario work with local municipalities to develop immediate options which could assist the Hotel Industry with mitigating the significant financial impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic; and,
  2. That these options include but not be limited to the following:
     1. Requesting the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) undertake a review and re-evaluation of all Hotel property assessments prior to the issuance of the 2021 final tax bill by Ontario municipalities; and,
     2. Requesting the Minister of Finance consider removing the education portion of the property taxes for Hotel properties in Ontario for the 2021 taxation year, and,
     3. Requesting the Minister of Finance consider developing a tax relief program to assist Hotel properties with the record low occupancy rates and limited revenue potential during this unprecedented time; and,
  3. Be it further resolved, that a copy of this resolution be sent to:
     1. The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario;
     2. The Honourable Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance;
     3. The Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing;
     4.  All Members of Provincial Parliament in the Regional Municipality of York;
     5. All Council Members of the Regional Municipality of York;
     6. All Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) Board of Directors;
     7. Nicole McNeill, President and Chief Administrative Officer, MPAC;
     8. Carmelo Lipsi, Vice-President, Valuation and Customer Relations and Chief Operating Officer, MPAC; and,
     9. Greg Martino, Vice-President, Valuation and Assessment Standards and Chief Valuation and Standards Officer, MPAC.

8.3

REPORT NO. 27 - DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE (SEPTEMBER 29, 2020)

Mayor and Members of Council:

• That the report of the Development Services Committee be received & adopted. (1 Item):

8.3.1

METROLINX TRANSIT PROJECT ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOR TRAIN STORAGE FACILITY IN MARKHAM CENTRE (WARD 3) (5.0)

• 1. That the staff memo entitled “Metrolinx Transit Project Assessment Process for Train Storage Facility in Markham Centre, Ward 3” be received; and,
  2. That Metrolinx and York Region be informed that Markham Council does not support a train storage facility in the proposed location; and,
  3. That staff be directed to continue to work with Metrolinx to identify an alternate and more appropriate location for the train storage facility; and further,
  4. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

9.

MOTIONS

10.

NOTICE OF MOTION TO RECONSIDER

11.

NEW/OTHER BUSINESS

As per Section 2 of the Council Procedural By-Law, "New/Other Business would generally apply to an item that is to be added to the Agenda due to an urgent statutory time requirement, or an emergency, or time sensitivity".

12.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

13.

BY-LAWS - THREE READINGS

14.

CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS

15.

CONFIRMATORY BY-LAW - THREE READINGS

• That By-law 2020-90 be given three readings and enacted.

  Three Readings

  BY-LAW 2020-90 - A BY-LAW TO CONFIRM THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
  No attachment

16.

ADJOURNMENT