GENERAL COMMITTEE
May 2, 2011
Meeting No. 13
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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John
Livey, Chief Administrative Officer
Catherine
Conrad, Town Solicitor
Jim
Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Andy
Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate Services
Gary Adamkowski, Acting Director, Asset Management
Joel Lustig,
Treasurer
Nory Takata, Parks Planner
Mavis Urquhart, Manager of Environmental
Leadership
Don Taylor, Manager
Executive Operations
Dennis Flaherty,
Director Communications & Community Relations
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee convened at 9:06 AM in the Council Chamber with Mayor
Frank Scarpitti in the Chair.
DISCLOSURE OF
INTEREST
Deputy Mayor Jack
Heath disclosed an interest with respect to item #15, as he owns shares in Sun
Life Financial, and did not take part in the consideration or discussion of or vote on the
question of the approval of such matter.
Regional Councillor Joe Li disclosed an
interest with respect to item #15, as he is an associate of Sun Life Financial,
and did not take part in the consideration or discussion of or vote on
the question of the approval of such matter.
1. MARKHAM ARTS COUNCIL (3.0)
Presentation
Ms. Helen Argiro,
Executive Director of the Markham Arts Council delivered a PowerPoint presentation
regarding the Markham Arts Council.
The Committee thanked
Ms. Helen Argiro and the Board of Directors for their wonderful work.
There was discussion
with respect to re-instating the program that allowed rotation of paintings
being displayed in the Mayor’s office of local artists.
Moved by Deputy Mayor
Jack Heath
Seconded by Councillor
Don Hamilton
1) That the presentation by Celeste Pelliccione, Chair and Helen Argiro, Executive Director, entitled “2010 in Review, 2011-2016 Preview” be received.
CARRIED
2. MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD (3.0)
Presentation
Ms. Cheryl Giblon,
Chair, Markham Public Library Board delivered a PowerPoint presentation
summarizing the Library’s achievements over the last four years.
The Committee thanked
Ms. Giblon for her detailed presentation.
There was discussion
regarding the library’s future including the technology and space.
Moved by Councillor Alex
Chiu
Seconded by Deputy
Mayor Jack Heath
1) That the presentation by Cheryl
Giblon, Chair entitled “Markham Public Library –
Building on A Winning Record” be received.
CARRIED
3. MINUTES
OF THE APRIL 11, 2011
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1)
That the Minutes of the April
11, 2011 General Committee be confirmed.
CARRIED
4. MINUTES
OF THE MARCH 30, 2011
CANADA DAY COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the March 30, 2011
Canada Day Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
5. MINUTES
OF THE MARCH 17, 2011 AND APRIL 9, 2011
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE (16.0)
March April
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the March 17, 2011
and April 9, 2011 Environmental Advisory Committee be received for information
purposes; and,
2) That the following recommendation from
the April 9, 2011 minutes be received:
“That the
Markham Environmental Advisory Committee recommend to Town of Markham Council
that the funds in the existing internal account, number 01655999011, be changed from a “trust” account to the
Committee’s operating account to cover cost of meetings and projects undertaken
by the Committee.; and further,
3) That
this matter be referred to Staff for report and recommendation.
CARRIED
6. MINUTES
OF THE APRIL 12, 2011
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE
(16.0)
Minutes
There was brief
discussion with respect to the whether the School Board contributes any funds
to these projects.
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the April 12, 2011
Environmental Issues Committee be received for information purposes; and,
2) That the funding
application from Kim Omoto requesting $5000.00 for a rain garden and outdoor classroom
at St. Patrick's School be approved; and,
3) That the funding application from
Pedral Cheng (Group Commissioner, 3rd Unionville - Scouts Canada) requesting
$2,400 for an educational and aerial photo/natural heritage signage at Milton
Fierheller Park be approved; and,
4) That the funding
application from Jeanette McLellan (teacher at James Robinson Public School)
requesting $4,272.00 for a wheelchair accessible sensory garden be approved;
and,
5) That the funding
application from Ken Harris, Lions Club Project Committee requesting $2,500.00
for native plant material and educational and aerial photo/natural heritage
signage at Carman Lewis Park be approved; and,
6) That the funding
application from Peter Davis, Project Coordinator, Ontario Streams requesting
$7,000.00 for plant material as part of a Little Rouge and Robinson Creek
rehabilitation initiative be approved provided that all Town of Markham and
Ministry of Natural Resources approvals and permits are obtained and that they
work with the Town of Markham Parks staff on delivery of this project; and,
7) That the remaining
$3000.00 be used for the Native North American Plant Society to do a
republication of the two brochures and a Workshop in the Fall 2011; and,
8) That the
funding application by 10,000 Trees for the Rouge Valley requesting $23,000 for
tree planting at 14th Avenue west of Reesor Rd. in Bob Hunter Park
be approved; and,
9) That the
funding application by Friends of the Rouge Watershed requesting $30,000 for
tree planting at four restoration sites within the Town of Markham be approved;
and,
10) That the funding application by Evergreen
requesting $27,530 for restoration plantings and stewardship events in a number
of parks within the Town of Markham be approved; and further,
11) That the funding application by LEAF
requesting $30,000 to provide expert advice through on site consultations, for
appropriate species selection, delivery, planting and post-planting maintenance
education, in their comprehensive subsidized Backyard Tree Planting program be
approved.
CARRIED
7. MINUTES OF THE APRIL 5, 2011
EXCELLENCE THROUGH EFFICIENCY
AND EFFECTIVENESS (E3) COUNCIL
STEERING COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the April 5, 2011 E3
Council Steering Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
8. MINUTES
OF THE FEBRUARY 28, 2011
AND MARCH 28, 2011 PUBLIC
LIBRARY BOARD (16.0)
February March
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the February 28,
2011 and March 28, 2011 Public Library Board be received for information
purposes.
CARRIED
9. MINUTES
OF THE MARCH 7, 2011
RACE RELATIONS COMMITTEE
(16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the March 7, 2011
Race Relations Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
10. MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 8, 2011 AND
MARCH 8, 2011 SENIORS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE (16.0)
February March
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the February 8, 2011
and March 8, 2011 Seniors Advisory Committee be received for information
purposes.
CARRIED
11. MINUTES OF THE MARCH 30, 2011 AND
APRIL 11, 2011 SENIOR’S HALL OF FAME
AWARDS COMMITTEE (16.0)
March April
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the March 30, 2011
and April 11 Senior’s Hall of Fame Awards Committee be received for information
purposes.
CARRIED
12. MINUTES
OF THE MARCH 2, 2011
THE FRIENDS OF THE MARKHAM
MUSEUM
FOUNDATION BOARD (16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the March 2, 2011
The Friends of the Markham Museum Foundation Board be received for information
purposes.
CARRIED
13. MINUTES
OF THE APRIL 11, 2011
TXM AND AMANDA TASK FORCE
(16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the April 11, 2011
TXM and Amanda Task Force be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
14. MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 28, 2011
AND APRIL 4, 2011 VARLEY MCKAY ART
FOUNDATION OF MARKHAM (16.0)
February April
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the Minutes of the February 28,
2011 and April 4, 2011 Varley McKay Art Foundation of Markham be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
15. STAFF AWARDED CONTRACTS
FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2011 (7.12)
Report
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the report entitled “Staff Awarded Contracts for the
Month of March 2011” be received; and,
2) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
16. 2011
FIRST QUARTER INVESTMENT
PERFORMANCE REVIEW (7.0)
Report Exhibits
1-6
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the report
dated May 2, 2011 entitled “2011 First Quarter Investment Performance Review”
be received.
CARRIED
17. 2010
HEDGING CONTRACT RESULTS (7.0)
Report
The Committee briefly discussed the hedging
costs and whether it is feasible to continue purchasing hedge contracts.
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That
the report dated May 2, 2011 entitled “2010 Hedging Contract Results” be
received; and,
2) That
Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
CARRIED
18. 2011
TAX RATES AND LEVY BY-LAW (7.3)
Report Appendix
A
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That a
by-law to provide for the levy and collection of property taxes totalling $517,981,893 required by the Town of Markham,
Regional Municipality of York, and Boards of Education in a form substantially
similar to the attached Appendix and satisfactory to the Town Solicitor and to
provide for the mailing of notices requesting payment of taxes for the year
2011, as set out as follows, be approved; and,
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Town of Markham:
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$112,098,245
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Region of York:
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$218,725,180
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School Boards:
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$187,158,468
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Total
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$517,981,893
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2) That
staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
CARRIED
19. LETTER OF
APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT (12.2.6)
Letter
Moved by
Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the letter dated March 25, 2011 from Siobhan Stevenson, Assistant Professor,
Faculty of Information, University of Toronto be received.
CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS
20. FIREWORKS (2.3)
Councillor
Valerie Burke suggested that the Canada Day celebrations that take place at the
Milne Dam Conservation Area be mindful to the wildlife and investigate whether
the fireworks could do away with the loud bang noise.
21. IN-CAMERA (6.0, 8.6) AND
RESTRICTED MATTERS (8.0)
Moved by
Councillor Carolina Moretti
Seconded by
Councillor Howard Shore
That, in
accordance with Section 239 (2) (c, a) of the Municipal Act, General Committee resolve into an in-camera
session to discuss the following confidential matters (9:59 AM):
1) A proposed or
pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board.
2) The security of
property of the municipality or local board.
3) The security of
property of the municipality or local board.
4) The security of
property of the municipality or local board.
5) A proposed or
pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board. (See Restricted Agenda)
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor
Don Hamilton
Seconded by Councillor
Carolina Moretti
That the Committee
rise from the in-camera session (12:59 PM)
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 1:20 PM.