M I N U T E S
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
2005-09-13
Meeting No. 15
Attendance
|
Regional Councillors D.
Cousens
F.
Scarpitti
J.
Heath
J.
Jones (6:15 p.m.)
B.
O'Donnell
Councillors S.
Daurio
E.
Shapero
J.
Virgilio (6:30 p.m.)
G.
McKelvey
D.
Horchik
K.
Usman
A.
Chiu
|
J. Livey, Chief Administrative Officer
J. Baird, Commissioner of Development
Services
C. Conrad, Town Solicitor
B. Cribbett, Treasurer
P. Miller, Manager, Secretariat Services
J. Sales, Commissioner of Community & Fire
Services
A. Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate
Services
S. Birrell, Town Clerk
D. Clark, Town Architect
M. West, Manager, Strategic Initiatives
A. Pozywiak, Director, Strategic Initiatives
M. Rebane, Manager, Corporate
Communications
J. Bosomworth, Manager, Strategy &
Innovation
|
The Committee of the Whole meeting convened at the hour of 5:35 p.m. with Mayor D. Cousens in the Chair.
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor G. McKelvey
That committee recess in-camera to discuss a confidential legal matter.
Carried.
DISCLOSURE
OF INTEREST
None declared.
1. MINUTES
OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
- SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 (16.0)
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Regional Councillor B. O'Donnell
That the minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held on September 1, 2005 be confirmed;
And that Councillor A. Chiu be included on the Interview Committee for
the Committee of Adjustment.
Carried
2. AUDIOSTREAMING
(7.14)
Report
Committee had before it a report from the Town Clerk regarding the
possibility of publishing the audio recordings of historical standing committee
meetings on the Town's website. The Town
Clerk reviewed current practices.
Debate took place about the need to publish these recordings on the
website since written minutes are produced.
Some members of committee indicated their support of this customer
service enhancement. Staff was requested
to investigate best practices in other municipalities on verbatim reporting.
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Heath
Seconded by Councillor G. McKelvey
That the report of the Town Clerk, entitled "Audio Streaming"
dated September 13th,
2005, be received for information.
Carried
(See
following motion which was Lost)
Moved by Deputy Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Councillor K. Usman
That the matter of publishing the audio
recordings of historical standing committee meetings on the Town's website be
referred back to staff;
And that staff be directed to investigate the
best practices of other municipalities on verbatim reporting.
Lost
3. DEVELOPMENT
CHARGE DEFERRAL –
NEAMSBY INVESTMENTS (7.11)
Report
Committee had before it the tabled report from the Commissioner of
Corporate Services and the Treasurer regarding a request to defer development
charges for Neamsby Investments for the Markham Centre presentation centre.
Ms. Cribbett explained that the presentation centre will be on the site
for a lengthy period time. It is suggested
that development charges be deferred until construction begins. She assured committee that revenue to the
Town would not be compromised.
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Councillor S. Daurio
That the report titled
“Development Charge Deferral – Neamsby Investments” be received;
And that Council authorize the
Town of Markham to enter into an agreement with Neamsby Investments for a
conditional deferral of the payment of the Town of Markham development charges
(Town Wide Hard, Town Wide Soft and Area Specific) relating to the construction
of the Markham Centre presentation centre, to the satisfaction of the Town
Solicitor;
And that the deferral be
conditional on the Markham Centre presentation centre being used for the
purposes of new residential and non-residential sales;
And that the deferral be
granted for a maximum of five years;
And that the deferral be
reviewed at the end of the five year term;
And that the Mayor and Clerk
be authorized to execute the agreement.
Carried
4. PARKING – PAY AND DISPLAY (2.17)
David Clark, Town Architect, and Meg West, Manager, Strategic
Initiatives, announced that pay and display machines became operational in the
Allstate Parkway and Ferrier Street areas on Friday, September 9, 2005. The first ticket from the first machine was framed
and presented to committee. Mr. Clark
and Ms. West thanked committee, the Chief Administrative Officer and the
Commissioners for their support of the project.
In response to queries, committee was advised that the Contact Centre
is taking and recording calls from the public regarding the pay and display
project, a Parking Committee will be formed to evaluate other areas of the Town
where pay and display parking may be appropriate, and two Parking Control Officers
will be enforcing in the areas until 9:00 p.m. seven days per week.
Staff was requested to provide an update in two months.
Moved by Councillor J. Virgilio
Seconded by Councillor K. Usman
That the presentation by Meg West and David Clark regarding pay and
display parking, be received.
Carried
5. HYDRO
UPDATE
ONTARIO POWER AUTHORITY (13.8)
Committee had before it the September 9, 2005 presentation by the Ontario Power
Authority (OPA) announcing its decision regarding the expansion of the hydro
transmission line through York Region and its recommendation of an integrated
solution for providing reliable electrical power to the northern part of York
Region.
Committee also had a copy of the September 13, 2005 press release published by the
Town.
The Commissioner of Development Services reviewed the decision and
political reaction to it by King
City and the Town of Newmarket. He explained that the OPA must now report to
the Ontario Energy Board (OEB). In
response to a query about suggesting alternatives to natural gas as an energy
source be considered, Mr. Baird confirmed the OPA has only ruled out coal.
Congratulations and thanks were extended to Councillor D. Horchik, Deputy
Mayor F. Scarpitti, Regional Councillor J. Heath, Councillor K. Usman, John
Livey, Chief Administrative Officer, Catherine Conrad, Town Solicitor, Jim
Baird, Commissioner of Development Services, Jamie Bosomworth, Manager,
Strategy and Innovation, and other staff in the Town for their efforts and
achievements on this project.
Moved by Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by Deputy Mayor F. Scarpitti
That the Ontario Power
Authority (OPA) “York Region Electricity Supply Recommendation”, dated
September 9, 2005, be received.
And that the OPA be advised that the Town of Markham
strongly supports the “integrated solution” recommended by the OPA, comprised of:
· Demand Reduction across York
Region;
· New Transformer Station capacity in
Northern York Region; and,
· Local Generation in Northern York Region.
And that the OPA be commended for undertaking a
fair, open and participatory consultation process, including technical working
group, elected officials, and public meeting components.
And that Markham Council
commits to working with the Markham Energy Conservation Office, PowerStream
Inc., other York Region municipalities and local hydro distribution companies,
the OPA, the Ministry of Energy and all stakeholders, to pursue opportunities
for conservation and electricity demand management;
And that the OPA and Hydro One
continue to work with those communities that will host the new transformer
station and the local generation plant to ensure appropriate mitigation is put
in place;
And further that copies of
this resolution be forwarded to the OPA, the Ontario Energy Board, the Premier
of Ontario, the Minister of Energy, York Region M.P.P.’s, York Region
municipalities and York Region hydro distribution companies.
Carried
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Councillor K. Usman
That staff investigate to
determine if existing subdivision setbacks from hydro transmission corridors
are adequate and report back.
Carried
6. FULL SERVICE GAS STATIONS (10.0)
Moved by Councillor K. Usman
Seconded by Councillor J. Virgilio
Whereas it is in the public
interest to ensure accessibility to a full range of services and facilities for
all members of the public;
And whereas the elderly and
persons with physical disabilities or limitations require access to full
service gas stations;
And whereas there are fewer
and fewer gas stations in Markham, and elsewhere in the vicinity, offering full
service facilities;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
AS FOLLOWS:
That the Canadian
Petroleum Products Institute be requested to review with its Members the need
to ensure that all gas stations make provision for full service to patrons
having special needs;
And that the Province of Ontario be requested to address the issue
of accessibility to gas station service in Provincial policies and guidelines
pertaining to the accessibility needs of Ontarians;
And that the Town
of Markham Council and Staff use all available tools to ensure the provision of
a full service component for all future gas station facilities in the Town of
Markham;
And that the
Mayor’s Office write to all gas station operators in the Town of Markham to
request them to review their current operations to see what can be done to
accommodate patrons with special needs;
And further that copies of
this resolution be forwarded to the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute, the Province of Ontario, Region of York municipalities, the
Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Markham Advisory Committee for
Accessibility.
Carried
7. NEW ORLEANS DISASTER -
ASSISTANCE FROM MARKHAM
(12.2.6)
Report
Committee had before it the
tabled report dated September 13, 2005 from the Chief Administrative Officer
regarding assistance from Markham for the New Orleans disaster.
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor K.
Usman
That the report on the subject
"New Orleans disaster – assistance from Markham" be received.
Carried
8. JACK MACKAY BIRTHDAY PARTY (12.2.6)
Committee was advised of a birthday party for Jack
MacKay on September 28, 2005 at 4:30 p.m. in Thornhill.
The Committee of the Whole meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.