GENERAL COMMITTEE
June 17, 2013
Meeting No. 16
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
Catherine
Conrad, City Solicitor
Jim
Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
Brenda Librecz,
Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Trinela
Cane, Commissioner of Corporate Services
Paul Ingham, Director, Operations
Dennis
Flaherty, Director of Communications and Community Relations
Kimberley
Kitteringham, City Clerk
Peter Loukes, Director, Environmental Services
Joel Lustig,
Treasurer
Colin Service, Manager, Planning & Policy Development
Bill
Snowball, Fire Chief
Christopher
Alexander, Supervisor Licensing & Animal Services
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:01 a.m. with Mayor Frank
Scarpitti in the Chair and Councillor Alex Chiu Chaired Community Services
related items.
DISCLOSURE OF
INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. EVENTS POLICY (3.5 &
12.1)
Presentation
Dennis
Flaherty, Director of Communications and Community Relations delivered a
PowerPoint presentation regarding the events policy.
The
Committee discussed the following:
·
Provide Members of Council with
a list of all the Corporate Events
·
Corporate events include road
and parking openings, press conferences, etc.
·
Current policy is outdated and
inconsistent
·
Relationship between the City
of Markham the Markham Fair Board
·
Have a quick reference guide
outlining - price to drop picnic table, barricades, road closures, etc.
·
Challenges with some of the
larger events such as noise complaints, waste issues and safety concerns
·
Provide a brief memo outlining
the requirements of the Technical Standard & Safety Association (TSSA)
relative to the use of bbq's and inflatable devices
·
Updating the current City
by-law that will permit the use of bbq's in certain parks
·
Include in policy that if
Members of Council hosting a personal bbq for their residents that they will
need to fill out the application and pay the associated fees
·
Include sensitivity to wild
life in the events policy
·
Consider including Stryrofoam receptacles at
events
·
Include a list of events with
the corresponding grants received and indicate if the grant amounts have
increased/decreased over the years
·
Consideration to extend
janitorial services at the Civic Centre if large events taking place beyond
4:30 pm on weekdays or on weekends
·
Have different rates for
Markham based groups versus groups outside of the Markham area
·
Will the policy address
religious events
·
Ensure your application clearly
states how many individuals can be accommodated at a specific location
·
Investigate some permanent
fixtures at certain locations such as a bandshell
·
Include in policy things that
the City would like to encourage or discourage in activities
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the presentation by Mr. Dennis
Flaherty, Director, Corporate Communications & Community Relations entitled
“Events Policy,” be received; and,
2) That staff be directed to consider all the comments and
issues raised at the June 17, 2013 General Committee meeting and report back in
the Fall 2013.
CARRIED
2. ROAD RECONSTRUCTION OF MAIN STREET
MARKHAM FROM HIGHWAY 7 TO BULLOCK DRIVE (7.12 & 5.10)
Presentation
Moved by Councillor
Colin Campbell
Seconded by Councillor
Carolina Moretti
1) That
the presentation by Mr. Joel Lustig, Treasurer entitled “Road Reconstruction of
Main Street Markham from Highway 7 to Bullock Drive,” be referred directly to the June 17, 2013 Council meeting.
CARRIED
3. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 10, 2013
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the
Minutes of the June 10, 2013 General Committee be confirmed.
CARRIED
4. MINUTES OF THE MARCH 21, 2013
AND APRIL 18, 2013 BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
MARKHAM VILLAGE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA COMMITTEE (16.0)
March April
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the Minutes of the March 21, 2013
and April 18, 2013 Board of Management Markham Village Business Improvement
Area Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
5. MINUTES OF THE MAY 15, 2013
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
UNIONVILLE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the Minutes of the May 15, 2013
Board of Management Unionville Business Improvement Area be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
6. MINUTES OF THE APRIL 3, 2013 & JUNE 5, 2013
GERMAN MILLS COMMUNITY CENTRE BOARD (16.0)
April June
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the Minutes of the April 3, 2013
and June 5, 2013 German Mills Community Centre Board be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
7. MINUTES OF THE MAY 14, 2013
SENIORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the Minutes of the May 14, 2013
Seniors Advisory Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
8. 2012 SUMMER SIGN BY-LAW ENFORCEMENT
UPDATE REPORT (2.16)
Report Attachment
A Attachment
B
Moved by Councillor Alan Ho
Seconded by Councillor Colin Campbell
That the following be deferred to the June 24, 2013 General Committee
meeting:
1) That the report entitled “2012 Summer Sign By-law
Enforcement Update Report” be received; and,
2) That staff be directed to continue with the sign enforcement
program as outlined in the Report; and further,
3) That staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
9. ANIMAL SERVICES DELIVERY
MODEL (2.8)
Presentation Report
Attachment
A
Attachment
B Attachment
C Attachment
D
Trinela Cane, Commissioner of Corporate
Services provided the Committee with some introductory remarks relative to the
proposed Animal Services delivery model.
Christopher
Alexander, Supervisor Licensing & Animal Services delivered a PowerPoint
presentation regarding the Animal Services delivery model.
Barry MacKay, Markham resident addressed the
Committee regarding the proposed Animal Services Delivery Model and spoke in
opposition to the DPRA report. He stated
some concerns relative to the OSPCA's Animal Service Program.
Liz White, Animal Alliance of Canada
addressed the Committee with respect to the Animal Services Delivery Model and
stated some concerns. She submitted a
written submission with some suggested additional enhancements.
Nathalie Karvonen, Executive Director, Toronto Wildlife Centre delivered a
PowerPoint presentation regarding wildlife services. She suggested that Markham should consider
having a specialized wildlife service provider.
Suzanna Gartner addressed the Committee
regarding the proposed Animal Services delivery model and spoke in opposition
to the DPRA report, advocating the delivery of services similar to those
provided in Calgary, Alberta.
Janet Andrews, Chair of the Markham Animal
Care Committee addressed the Committee with respect to the Animal Services
delivery model and spoke in opposition to the DPRA proposed recommendations.
Tanya Firmage, OSPCA addressed the Committee
to explain some misconception regarding euthanasia of
animals and to advise of OSPCA improvements to their operations. She also
provided information on the OSPCA's province-wide animal foster program and
confirmed the Newmarket Branch would participate in the program.
There was discussion
regarding whether the option of a Markham shelter should be explored.
The Committee
suggested amending the period of the contract with the OSPCA to two years with
the two options for two year extenstions.
Moved by Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu
1) That the Animal
Care Committee Special Report entitled “The Future of Markham Animal
Services: Priorities for Action to 2016” be received for information; and,
2) That Option 2 –
“Enhanced Status Quo” of the DPRA report entitled “Study of Animal Service
Delivery Model” be adopted and implemented; and,
3) That Staff be
authorized to enter into a contract with the OSPCA for the provision of animal
services for a period of two years
with an option for 2 two year
extensions (if agreeable to both parties);
and,
4) That the
“Customer Loyalty Card Program” outlined in this report be adopted and
implemented in Markham as a licensing incentive; and,
5) That Staff
report back in the Fall of 2013 regarding the implementation strategy for the
Storefront Operation, including 2014 budget requirements; and,
6) That staff be directed to report back to Committee a year
after the contract with the OSPCA is signed with a status report on whether or
not the OSPCA is fulfilling the requirements of the contract to the satisfaction
of the City of Markham; and further,
7) That Staff be
authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
CARRIED
10. COUNCIL BUSINESS EXPENSE AND
CONFERENCE POLICY (7.0 & 16.23.2)
Report Appendix
A
Moved by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
Seconded by Councillor Howard Shore
1) That report entitled “Council Business Expense and Conference Policy” be
received; and,
2) That the Clerk be directed to meet
with Deputy Mayor Jack Heath and Regional Councillor Jim Jones to discuss their
concerns and suggestions relative to the proposed Council Business Expense and
Conference Policy and report back to General Committee.
CARRIED
11. PUBLIC REALM STRATEGY AND POLICIES (5.6)
Presentation
Moved by Councillor Alan Ho
Seconded by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
That
the following be deferred to the June 24, 2013 General Committee meeting:
1) That the presentation by Mr. Paul
Carabott and Ms. Allison Harrington, Landscape Architect and Planner with Peter
J. Smith & Company with Mr. Paul Ingham, Director, Operations and Mrs.
Karen Boniface, Technical Coordinator entitled “Public Realm Strategy and
Policies,” be received.
CARRIED
12. FIRE SERVICES AUTOMATIC AID PILOT
PROJECT WITH THE CITY OF VAUGHAN &
TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL (7.15)
Report Appendix
A
The
Committee suggested that staff investigate the potential for a fire services
automatic aid pilot project with the City of Toronto, City of Pickering and the
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.
There was
brief discussion regarding the potential increase in operating costs relative
to a regionalization or amalgamation of fire services.
Moved by
Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
Seconded
by Mayor Frank Scarpitti
1) That the report entitled, “Fire Services Automatic Aid Pilot Project with
the City of Vaughan and the Town of Richmond Hill” dated May 27, 2013 be
received; and,
2) That the City of Markham participate in a two-year Fire Services
Automatic Aid Pilot Project with City the of Vaughan and the Town of Richmond
Hill; and,
3) That the Fire Chief be authorized to enter into discussions to develop
an Automatic Aid Agreement with the City of Vaughan and the Town of Richmond
Hill; and,
4) That the Fire Chief advise the Markham Professional Firefighters
Association formally of Markham’s intent to take part in the pilot project;
and,
5) That the Fire Chief report back on the results and provide recommendations
following the two-year pilot; and,
6) That the Fire Chief also pursue other collaborations within the Region
of York that would be beneficial to the fire services in Markham; and,
7) That this report be circulated to City of Vaughan and the Town of
Richmond Hill; and,
8) That
the Fire Chief be directed to report back on the potential of entering into an agreement
regarding Fire Services Automatic Aid with the City of Toronto, City of
Pickering or Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, including an outline of any
possible implications; and further,
9) That staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to
give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
13. INTEGRATED LEISURE MASTER PLAN
-STATUS REPORT (6.0)
Report Appendix
A
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the report
entitled “Integrated Leisure Master Plan – Status Report” be received as
information.
CARRIED
14. TENNIS CLUBS POLICY (6.0)
Report Attachment
Mike
Gannon, Unionville Tennis Club addressed the Committee regarding the proposed
tennis clubs policy and provided some information relative to the current
arrangement between the City of Markham and Unionville Tennis Club. He provided some suggestions for staff to
consider and believes that there are a few discrepancies between the staff
report and proposed new policy.
Colin
Service, Manager, Planning & Policy delivered a PowerPoint presentation on
Tennis Club Policy.
The
Committee discussed:
· Strengthen the relationships with
the schools in Markham
· Need real time data of the use of
public courts
· Clay courts versus asphalt courts
· Can the public access hours be
increased at the Community Tennis Clubs
· Pros and Cons of the City taking ownership of
the current club houses
· Maintenance costs for clay courts
· Ability for Corporate sponsors
· Include an assessment of all club
houses when the recommendation report comes back to Committee
· Obtaining the right balance
between Club and public access to tennis courts
· The need for more public
consultation
The
Committee suggested that recommendations three and four be referred to the
Chief Administrative Officer.
Moved by
Mayor Frank Scarpitti
Seconded
by Councillor Don Hamilton
1) That the report
entitled “Tennis Clubs Policy” be received; and,
2) That Council approve in principle the draft policy, with direction to
staff to bring forward a final policy in September, 2013 after further review
and consultation with existing Tennis Clubs; and,
3) That the following
recommendation be referred to the Chief Administrative Officer for review and
consultation with the Ward Councillor: "That the
demolition of the Clubhouse building at Duncan Park for an upset limit of
$20,000 inclusive of HST to be funded from the Life Cycle Replacement and
Capital Reserve"; and,
4) That establishment of a new capital project for the demolition be referred to the Chief Administrative
Officer; and,
5) That during the planning phases of new parks, particularly in Wards
7 & 8, public tennis courts be considered; and,
6) That the deputation from Mike Gannon be received; and,
7) That staff report back on with a recommendation report
regarding the Tennis Club Policy in the Fall 2013; and further,
8) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to
give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business
15. RESTRICTED MATTER (6.0)
Karen Rea
addressed the Committee regarding the in-camera item and stated concerns
regarding whether this item should be discussed during a closed session.
Moved by
Councillor Carolina Moretti
Seconded by
Councillor Alex Chiu
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 (3:09 pm):
1) Advice that is subject to
solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that
purpose. (Markham Sports, Entertainment and Cultural Centre)
[Section 239 (f)] –
See Restricted Agenda
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton
Seconded by Councillor Colin Campbell
That the General Committee rise from the in-camera session (5:24
p.m.)
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan
Kanapathi
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 5:25 p.m.
CARRIED