GENERAL COMMITTEE
2007-11-05
Meeting
No. 29
Finance & Administrative
Issues Community
Services Issues
Chair: Councillor
J. Virgilio Chair:
Councillor
A. Chiu
Chair, Budget Sub-Ctte: Councillor D. Horchik Transportation
Issues
Chair: IT Sub-Ctte: Reg. Councillor J. Jones Chair: Reg. Councillor G.
Landon
Chair:
Grants Sub-Ctte: Councillor V. Burke Environment
& Sustainability Issues
Chair:
Councillor E.
Shapero
Attendance
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J. Livey, Chief
Administrative Officer
C. Conrad, Town
Solicitor
A. Taylor,
Commissioner of Corporate Services
J. Baird,
Commissioner of Development Services
S. Birrell, Town
Clerk
B. Cribbett,
Treasurer
A. Seabrooke,
Director, Strategic Services
J. Lustig, Director
of Financial and Client Services
J. Carnegie,
Director, Corporate Communications
S. Laing, Director,
Human Resources
A. Tang, Acting
Manager, Financial Planning
M. Visser, Manager,
Strategy, Investments and Innovation
M. Urquhart,
Manager, Environmental Leadership
J. Klaus, General
Manager, Waterworks
P. Loukes, Director,
Operations
S. Laing, Director,
Human Resources
B. Nanninga,
Executive Assistant to Mayor and
Council
C. Raynor, Committee
Clerk
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The
General Committee convened at the hour of 9:05 a.m. with Councillor J. Virgilio
in the Chair.
DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST
None
disclosed
1. PESTICIDE BY-LAW
TREATMENT OF GRUBS AND CHINCH BUGS (5.7)
Presentation
Mr. Frank
Reddick, Turf Logic Inc., provided options for organically treating grubs and
chinch bugs. Mr. Reddick advised that the best approach is to tackle the cause
of the problem rather than the symptoms. As such, residents should avoid high
nitrogen fertilizer, especially in the spring and ensure they have a proportion
of endophyte-treated grasses in their lawns. Nematodes can be used to treat
infestations as they are harmless to children and animals and will not create
an environmental imbalance.
Moved by
Mayor Scarpitti
Seconded by
Councillor V. Burke
That the presentation by Mr. F. Reddick,
Turf Logic Inc., regarding the treatment of Chinch Bugs and Grubs, be received;
And
that staff further research the options for the organic treatment of Grubs and
Chinch Bugs and report back with suggested amendments to the Pesticide By-law
to encourage such treatment.
CARRIED
2. MINUTES OF THE
OCTOBER 22, 2007
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Jones
Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong
That the minutes of
the October 22, 2007 General Committee be received.
CARRIED
3. MINUTES OF THE
OCTOBER 17, 2007
MARKHAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Jones
Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong
That the minutes of the Markham Advisory
Committee on Accessibility meeting held on October 17, 2007 be received;
And that the following recommendation of
the Committee be approved:
“That the resident’s request for fee relief
for on street parking adjacent to her home be denied;
And that all future requests with respect
to fee relief for street parking fees due to matters relating to disability be
referred to the Markham Advisory Committee on Accessibility to be considered on
a case by case basis.”
CARRIED
4. MINUTES OF THE
OCTOBER 17, 2007
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUB-COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Jones
Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong
That the minutes of
the October 17, 2007 Information Technology Sub-Committee be received.
CARRIED
5. 2007 ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
(16.24)
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Jones
Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong
Markham Race Relations Committee
That the resignation of Mr. Warren Ali from
the Markham Race Relations Committee be received with regret;
And that the vacant position be included
with all other upcoming advisory committee vacancies being considered in the
fall of 2007;
Leash Free Markham Committee
And that the following persons be appointed
to the Leash Free Markham Committee for the term ending November 30, 2008:
Robert Bowman
Alan Glushko
Robert Goddard
CARRIED
6. 2007 3rd
QUARTER INVESTMENT
PERFORMANCE REVIEW (7.0)
Report 1 2 3 4 5 6
There was brief
discussion regarding cash flows.
Moved by Regional
Councillor J. Heath
Seconded by
Councillor D. Horchik
That the report
dated October 15, 2007 entitled “2007 Third Quarter Investment Performance
Review” be received.
CARRIED
7. PROPOSED 2008
WATER/WASTE WATER
RATE INCREASE (7.4, & 7.5)
Report 1
Mr. J. Lustig, Director, Financial and
Client Services, outlined a number of options for phasing in proposed increases
to the water/wastewater rates. It was noted that a balanced phase-in over any
period exceeding seven (7) years will result in a short term negative balance
in the Water/Wastewater Reserve.
There was discussion surrounding the
ongoing process for reviewing water/wastewater rates. Committee was advised
that annual updates will be provided by staff. Committee expressed concern that
this will lead to annual increases in the rates and suggested that no further
increases be implemented until the existing initial phase in process is
complete.
Committee suggested that the time of the
public meeting to discuss this matter be postponed until 6:45 p.m. to enable a
greater attendance.
Moved by Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by Regional Councillor G. Landon
That the report
dated November 5, 2007 entitled “Proposed 2008 Water/Wastewater Rate Increase”
be received;
And that staff
be authorized to hold a public meeting on November 20, 2007 at 6:45 p.m. on the proposed 2008
Water/Wastewater rate increase;
And that the proposed 2008 Water/Wastewater rate
increase be equivalent to the Region of York’s (“Region”) proposed increase of
6.35% (Appendix A – Region of York Water & Wastewater Increase from 2002 to
Proposed 2008) resulting in an increase in the Town of Markham’s (“Town”)
Water/Wastewater rate of $0.1006 per cubic metre (m3);
And that in addition to the Region’s increase, a
Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Surcharge of $0.4137 will be phased-in over 10
years effective January 1, 2008 with an increase of $0.0827/m3 (20%
of total increase) in 2008 and an increase of $0.0621/m3 (15%
of total increase) in 2009. The
remaining 65% increase of $0.2689 will be spread evenly over the following 8
years which is equivalent to an increase of $0.0336/m3 per year from
2010 to 2017 inclusive. The
Infrastructure Surcharge will be applied to the Water/Wastewater rate to
address the ongoing replacement and rehabilitation requirements for Waterworks
infrastructure;
And further that any potential Infrastructure
Surcharges in addition to the above will be brought forward to Council through
the annual Water/Wastewater Reserve Update and Budget discussions.
CARRIED
8. CHILDREN AND SMOKE FREE CARS (13.4)
Communication
There was
brief discussion on this matter.
Moved by
Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by
Mayor Scarpitti
That consideration of the letter from Mr. D.
Kelly, Regional Clerk, dated October 18, 2007, regarding a resolution passed by
York Region Council urging the federal government to pass legislation regarding
children and smoke free cars be deferred until such time as Regional staff are
available to make a presentation on the matter to General Committee.
CARRIED
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Moved by
Councillor J. Webster
Seconded by
Councillor C. Moretti
That Committee
resolve in camera to discuss confidential legal and personnel matters (10:05)
CARRIED
Moved by Deputy
Mayor J. Jones
Seconded by
Regional Councillor G. Landon
That the Committee
rise (10:30)
CARRIED
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9. STRATEGIC
PLAN REVIEW (12.1)
Committee
was advised that a meeting will be held with Councillors, Commissioners and
senior staff on November 6, 2007 to present a preview of the “Click With
Markham” program that will publicly launch on November 7, 2007.
It was
noted that “Click With Markham” is a follow up to the public exercise to
develop strategic priorities and that the launch on November 7 will mark the
next step of the public consultation process.
ADJOURNMENT
The
General Committee adjourned at 10:32 a.m.