GENERAL COMMITTEE
December 7, 2009
Meeting
No. 26
Finance & Administrative
Issues Community
Services Issues
Chair: Reg.
Councillor J. Virgilio Chair:
Councillor
A. Chiu
Chair, Budget Sub-Ctte: Councillor D. Horchik Environment & Sustainability Issues
Chair: IT Sub-Ctte: Reg. Councillor J. Jones Chair: Councillor
E. Shapero
Chair:
Grants Sub-Ctte: Councillor V. Burke
Attendance
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J. Livey, Chief Administrative
Officer
C. Conrad, Town
Solicitor
A. Taylor,
Commissioner of Corporate Services
B. Librecz, Commissioner
of Community & Fire Services
J. Baird,
Commissioner of Development Services
B. Cribbett,
Treasurer
J. Carnegie,
Director of Communication and Community Relations
J. Ryerson, Director
of Culture
L. Wetham, Manager Tangible Asset Project
G. Taylor, Acting
Director of Recreation
C. Biss, Chief
Executive Officer, Library
S. Andrews, Director
Asset Management
P. Fu, Manager, Capital of Right-of-Way
A. Tari, Committee
Clerk
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The General Committee convened at 9:00 AM with Regional Councillor J.
Virgilio in the Chair.
1. DEPUTATION
- TOWN SQUARE ON MAIN STREET MARKHAM (8.6)
Ms. Elizabeth Plashkes, Markham Village Conservancy addressed the
Committee with respect to creating a Town Square for the community of Main
Street Markham. She believes it would be
an excellent opportunity for the community and urges Council to move forward
with this project.
2. PSAB 3150 – TANGIBLE CAPITAL ASSETS (7.0)
Presentation
Ms. Lorri Wetham, Manager Tangible Asset
Project, delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing an overview with respect
to the PSAB 315 – Tangible Capital Asset.
There was discussion regarding the benefits
and real value of this process.
Moved by Councillor J. Webster
Seconded by Councillor D. Horchik
1) That
the presentation entitled “PSAB 3150 – Tangible Capital Assets” be received.
CARRIED
3. MINUTES OF THE
NOVEMBER 9, AND 16, 2009
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Nov.
9 Nov.
16
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi
1) That
the Minutes of the November 9, and 16, 2009 General Committee meetings be
received.
CARRIED
4. MINUTES
OF THE NOVEMBER 13, 2009
GRANTS SUB-COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi
1) That
the Minutes of the November 13, 2009 Grants Sub-Committee be received;
2) That Council approve
the following recommendations from the November 13, 2009 Grant Sub Committee
Minutes:
"That a Celebrate Markham grant, in the
amount of $6,000, be approved for the Tony Roman Memorial Hockey Tournament for
2010;
And that a Celebrate Markham grant,
in the amount of $10,000, be approved in principle for the Chinese New Year
Celebration for 2010;
And that the organizers be requested
to provide additional financial information;
And that a Celebrate Markham grant,
in the amount of $2,000, be approved in principle for the Black History Month
for 2010;
And that the organizers be requested
to provide additional financial information;
And that a Celebrate Markham grant, in the
amount of $2,500, be approved in principle for the Markham Federation of
Filipino Canadians for 2010;
And that the organizers be requested to
provide additional financial information.
CARRIED
5. 2010
INTERIM TAX LEVY AND BY LAW (7.3)
Report
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi
1) That
Council authorize an interim tax levy for 2010; and,
2) That
the attached by-law passed to authorize the 2010 interim tax levy; and,
3) That Staff be
authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
CARRIED
6. DEVELOPMENT
CHARGES INDEXING
– JANUARY 2001 (7.11)
Report
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi
1)
That the report titled
“Development Charges Indexing – January 1, 2010” be received; and,
2)
That Council approve a
reduction in development charges of 2.07%, effective January 1, 2010; and
further,
3)
That staff be directed to do
all things necessary to give effect to this report.
CARRIED
7. PRE-QUALIFICATIONS
OF GENERAL CONTRACTORS
FOR EAST MARKHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE (7.12)
Report
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi
1) That
the report titled “Pre-qualification of General Contractors for the East
Markham Community Centre & Library” be received; and,
2) That
Staff be authorized to release the Pre-qualification document for East Markham
Community Centre & Library with the set procedure identified within this
report; and,
That
Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
CARRIED
8. PROCESS FOR BUILDING
A
CREATIVE MARKHAM
POLICY PLAN (6.5)
Presentation
Mr. John Ryerson delivered a
PowerPoint presentation with respect to Building a Creative Markham.
There was discussion regarding
the opportunity to work together with other groups and use the resources
widely.
The Committee inquired whether
the report should have specific reference to tourism. Staff advised that tourism is a component of
this plan and that it is important to strengthen the communities and build
attractions to get the tourism.
Moved by Councillor J. Webster
Seconded by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
1) That the
presentation entitled “Building a Creative Markham - December 2009” be
received.
CARRIED
9. BUILDING
A CREATIVE MARKHAM POLICY (6.5)
Report
Moved by Councillor J. Webster
Seconded by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
1) That the staff
report titled Building a Creative Markham Policy and Plan dated November 9,
2009 be received; and,
2) That a
project to develop a Cultural Policy and Plan be approved at the total cost of
$100,000 and the funding be provided as follows:
Economic Development
Account: A/C 610-101-5699-10003
“Creative City
Sector Program” Capital Project #10003 $
15,000
Sustainability Office A/C
#230-101-5399-9345 $
10,000
Culture Department A/C
560-560-5699 $ 3,269
Capital Project #7166
(Recreation & Culture Organization Review) $
21,731
Provincial Grant (subject
to approval by the Province) $
50,000
-----------
Total $100,000;
and further,
3) That staff
be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
CARRIED
10. INTEGRATED LEISURE
MASTER PLAN PROJECT UPDATE (6.0)
Report
Presentation
Ms. Catherine Biss, Chief Executive Officer, Markham Public Libraries
began a PowerPoint presentation providing an update with respect to the
Integrated Leisure Master Plan.
Ms.
Jean Monteith, Planning Consultant completed the PowerPoint presentation
outlining the proposed goals related to the Integrated Leisure Master Plan.
The
Committee discussed and commented on the proposed goals and suggested that the
following amendments be considered:
·
Goal 1 – add the following
words to the forth bullet to read “be proactive in land acquisition outside the intensified area for active
recreation”
·
Goal 5 – replace the word “the”
with “a” to read “……promote the Civic Centre…as a cultural centre for Markham.”
·
Goal 9a – ensure focus is on
entire age groups and not only Youth and Older Adults
·
Next Steps – amend the first point
to include “draft” financial strategy
There was
brief discussion regarding the potential to set up a Council Working Committee
to further discuss the proposed goals.
The Committee
discussed the need for financial viability and staff indicated that the mission
statement has the word “sustainable leisure opportunities” which is interpreted
to also include financial viability.
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by Councillor J. Webster
1) That the Report entitled “Integrated
Leisure Master Plan Project Update” be received; and,
2) That the presentation provided by staff
and the project consultant, Jean Monteith, Planning Consultant, regarding the
Integrated leisure Master Plan be received; and,
3) That
the proposed goals 1 to 9 d, as amended at the December 7, 2009 General
Committee meeting, outlined in the presentation be endorsed in principle; and
further,
4) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
11. WEST THORNHILL STORMWATER
FLOOD REMEDIATION
CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (5.5)
Report 1
Ms. Phoebe Fu,
Manager, Capital of Right-of-Way, delivered a PowerPoint presentation
summarizing the report entitled “West Thornhill Stormwater Flood Remediation
Class Environmental Assessment.”
There was discussion
with respect to having the option of changing the recommendation of the Environmental
Study Report (ESR) if required once the implementation strategy is presented to
Committee. Ms. Catherine Conrad
addressed the Committee and confirmed that if Committee determines that the
original proposed recommendation is unacceptable then there is an opportunity
to file an amendment/addendum to the original Environmental Assessment.
There was brief
discussion regarding the preferred 100 year level of protection and that the
residents in West Thornhill would like the same level of protection as in new
developments throughout the Town of Markham.
Ms. Marilyn Ginsburg,
Grandview Area Residents Association addressed the Committee regarding the
staff report entitled “West Thornhill Stormwater Flood Remediation Class
Environmental Assessment” and believes the report is incomplete and
inaccurate. She feels that the Town wide
cost estimates are not based on detailed studies. Ms. Ginsburg is not in support of the 5 year
level of protection. She believes that
the residents in West Thornhill have already paid for their infrastructure cost
when their homes were originally built.
Mr. Steve Andrew,
Director Asset Management advised the Committee that the staff report included
a recommendation for Council to reaffirm
their position on the 100 year level to highlight the significant Town wide
implications associated to that protection.
Moved by Councillor V. Burke
Seconded by Regional Councillor G. Landon
1)
That the report entitled “West Thornhill Stormwater Remediation Class
Environmental Assessment” be received; and,
2)
That Council’s direction of the
preferred alternative solution - 100 year level of protection for the West
Thornhill stormwater system improvements be reaffirmed; and,
3)
That Asset Management staff be
authorised to file the Environmental Assessment Report for the 30 day public
review commencing January 12, 2010; and,
4)
That staff report back to Council on implementation strategy for the
preferred alternative solution; and further,
CARRIED
12. THORNHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE
& LIBRARY EXPANSION
RENOVATION PROJECT (6.6)
Report 1
Mr. Wesley K-Lim,
W K-Lim Architects addressed the Committee to provide an update with respect to
the issues and concerns raised at the October 19, 2009 General Committee
meeting.
There was
discussion regarding the Youth Space and whether there are any other
alternatives. Mr. K-Lim advised that the
Youth Space will be designed to be as open and inviting as possible and that
there are no other alternatives available.
Moved by Councillor V. Burke
Seconded by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
1) That the report and presentation titled “Thornhill Community
Centre & Library Expansion & Renovation Project” be received; and,
2) That staff be directed to proceed with tender release and
report back to Council for approval to award tender upon closure; and,
3) That staff be delegated authority for site
plan approvals; and,
4) That the
extension of the library elevator be included in the design but be separately
priced; and further,
5) That staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to
give effect to this resolution
CARRIED
13. MARKHAM PUBLIC
LIBRARY BOARD -
THORNHILL PUBLIC LIBRARY
LOCATION/ OPERATIONS DURING THE
THORNHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE
RENOVATION/EXPANSION (3.19)
Letter
Staff advised that they will satisfy the
requirements outlined in the letter from the Markham Library Board with respect
to providing space for the Thornhill Library during the renovation period and
that space will be provided in the kiosk area in the Thornhill Community Centre.
Staff pointed out that the timeline that the project must be completed by is March
31, 2011 in order to receive the Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Funding and
that by closing the facility will save approximately 6 weeks of construction
time.
Ms. Pat Durst, Chair Markham Public
Library, addressed the Committee advising of the importance to provide minimal
amount of space (for drop-offs and pick-ups) for the duration of the renovation
project.
The Committee suggested removing the words “either,
or an alternate location” from the resolution below.
Moved by Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by Councillor J. Webster
1) That
the letter from Ms. P. Durst, Chair, Markham Public Library Board, be received.
2) That Council approve
the following motion passed at the Markham Public Library Board meeting held on
Monday, November 23, 2009:
“Resolved that
the Library remain closed during the period of renovation; and,
Resolved that
the Board request Council to find suitable Library space at the Thornhill
Community Centre for the duration of the renovation project”.
CARRIED
IN CAMERA MATTERS
Moved by
Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by
Councillor L. Kanapathi
That, in
accordance with Sections 239 (2) (c), and (e) of the Municipal Act, General Committee resolve into an in-camera
session to discuss the following confidential matters (12:19 PM):
1) A proposed or
pending acquisition of disposition of land by the municipality or local board
regarding a proposed Town Square.
2) A litigation or
potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals,
affecting the municipality or local board, regarding MTO/ Markham Green
Expropriation – Recommended Division of Settlement between the Town and IBM.
CARRIED
Moved by Regional
Councillor G. Landon
Seconded by
Councillor L. Kanapathi
That the Committee rise from the
in-camera session (12:57 PM)
CARRIED
14. MICROPHONE
AND SOUND SYSTEM
IN THE
COUNCIL CHAMBERS (7.13)
The Committee suggested that staff provide an update with respect to the
microphones and sound system in the Council Chambers. Staff advised that the IT Department is
looking at a wireless system for the Canada Room and that staff are looking at
improvements for the sound system in the Council Chambers and that they will
provide a staff report with the details.
ADJOURNMENT
The General Committee meeting adjourned at 1:00 PM.