Special General Committee
April 25, 2017
Meeting
Number 7
Finance & Administrative Issues Community Services Issues
Chair: Deputy Mayor Jack
Heath Chair: Councillor Alan Ho
Vice Chair: Councillor Colin Campbell Vice
Chair: Councillor Alex Chiu
Environment
& Sustainability Issues Building,
Parks, & Construction Issues
Chair: Councillor
Valerie Burke Chair: Councillor Colin
Campbell
Vice Chair: Councillor Karen Rea Vice Chair: Regional Councillor Nirmala
Armstrong
Alternate formats are available
upon request.
Attendance
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Andy
Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
Jim
Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
Trinela
Cane, Commissioner of Corporate Services
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Catherine
Conrad, City Solicitor and Acting Director of
Human Resources
Kimberley Kitteringham, City Clerk
Biju Karumanchery, Director of Planning
& Urban Design
Raymond Law,
Manager, Business & Technical Services
Christopher
Alexander, Acting Manager, By-law
Enforcement &
Regulatory Services
Shirley Marsh,
Senior Planner, Urban Design
David Hunt, Tree
Preservation Technician
Jody Parsons, Court
Administration Coordinator
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee meeting convened at the hour of 9:06 AM with Deputy
Mayor Jack Heath in the Chair and Councillor Alan Ho assumed the Chair for
Community Services related item.
1. DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY
INTEREST
None disclosed.
2. PRESENTATION ON CITY OF MARKHAM
TREE PRESERVATION BY-LAW 2008-96 (2.0)
Presentation Attachment
1 Attachment
2
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services addressed the Committee
and provided some opening remarks relative to the Tree Preservation By-law
2008-96 that establishes the City's policy for preservation, protection,
replacement and enhancement of significant trees while respecting the
development approval process.
Raymond Law, Manager,
Business & Technical Services; Christopher Alexander, Acting Manager,
By-law Enforcement & Regulatory Services and Catherine Conrad, City Solicitor and Acting
Director of Human Resources delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the
City of Markham's Tree Preservation By-law 2008-96.
The
Committee discussed and suggested the following relative to the City of Markham
Tree Preservation By-law:
·
Should
there be a permit application fee?
·
Importance
of retaining trees within private property to assist with the City's overall
tree canopy
·
Are
survival rates of newly planted trees monitored?
·
Importance
of aligning the process to ensure that both infill development, and new
subdivisions are treated the same
·
Ensure
any changes to the by-law are easy for the residents to understand
·
Consider
including some exceptions such as: if more than 80% of the tree canopy needs to
be removed then is it worth retaining the tree; if the tree has an impact on
the building structure (residential and/or commercial) can it be removed
·
Importance
of educating the public
·
Should
the Licensing Committee be the final decision or should Council ratify the
recommendation of the Licensing Committee?
The
Committee discussed the current composition of the Markham Licensing Committee,
and whether Members of Council should be members or should it be only citizen
representatives. Staff advised that they
will be bringing forward a report in the Fall regarding a proposed compositions
for the Licensing Committee that will remove it from the political realm.
The
Committee suggested that staff schedule another Special General Committee meeting
in a few months to further discuss potential amendments to the City of
Markham's Tree Preservation By-law 2008-96.
Moved by
Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by
Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
That the
presentation regarding the City of Markham's Tree Preservation By-law 2008-96
by Raymond Law, Manager, Business & Technical Services;
Christopher Alexander, Acting Manager, By-law Enforcement & Regulatory
Services and Catherine
Conrad, City Solicitor and Acting Director of Human Resources be received.
Carried
3. DEPUTATIONS
- PRESENTATION ON CITY OF
MARKHAM
TREE PRESERVATION BY-LAW
2008-96 (2.0)
Peter
Miasek, Unionville Residents Association addressed the Committee regarding the
City of Markham Tree Preservation By-law and spoke in support of continuous
improvement to the by-law. He indicated
that he has submitted some items for staff to consider.
Christiane
Bergauer-Free, Markham resident addressed the Committee with respect to the
City of Markham Tree Preservation By-law and spoke in support of continuous
improvements to the by-law. She
suggested that mature hedges be included, and that neighbouring properties need
to respect the mature trees.
4. COMMUNICATIONS
- PRESENTATION ON CITY OF MARKHAM
TREE PRESERVATION BY-LAW 2008-96 (2.0)
Correspondence
Moved by Councillor
Valerie Burke
Seconded by Deputy
Mayor Jack Heath
That the communication
dated April 20, 2017 from Ricardo Mashregi, member of Trees and Residents for
Urban Environments (TRUE) regarding “Tree Preservation By-law 2008-96” be
received.
Carried
5. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan
Kanapathi
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 11:39 AM.
Carried